Daisy
Wicked has been the talk of the town since it was announced back in 2016.
From casting decisions, to off-screen romance, to touching press tours.
And now in 2024, we finally get to see Wicked on the big screen. Well, at least part one.
The film is an adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical. The musical was based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire – which was inspired by The Wizard of Oz movie, which was based on another book (it’s confusing I know).
And with so much source material and already adoring fans, Wicked had some big ruby slippers to fill.
As a prequel to the events of The Wizard of Oz, the story sets out to explore how the Wicked Witch of the West came to be, well… wicked.
In this first installment, we get to watch an unlikely friendship bloom between the pink-clad, popular Galinda (Ariana Grande) and the green-skinned outcast Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo).
They meet at Shiz University, where Galinda has come in hopes of becoming a sorceress, and Elphaba has come to look after her younger sister.
After becoming roommates, it takes time for them to break through their initial disdain for each other. And what comes out of it is a beautiful friendship.
Many people have been torn over the decision to make this adaptation into a two-part musical – considering this first installment has the same run-time as the entire Broadway show.
But as soon as the film began, I understood why this choice was made.
Director Jon M. Chu used this extra time to inject the world with impressive detail. The costume and set design helped create a spectacular visual world.
I truly felt like I was exploring Oz for the first time, and it was nice to be able to stop and smell the tulips.
This extra time also allows us to explore the central characters more in-depth. We get to understand the rich history of this world, from the different towns and people, to the plight of animals in Oz.
The movie didn’t feel rushed, nor drag too long. Each musical number was allowed to breathe, letting the actors fully give their all to each performance.
They made each song their own, with adlibs and unique character quirks that set them apart from past versions of their characters.
The performances of the main cast were spectacular. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s bond has been palpable in their press tours. The true connection between these two actors is reflected beautifully on screen. The emotions were so genuine and it made me cry way too much.
Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum are big names in pretty expected roles. Madame Morrible and The Wizard of Oz are big characters, yet they were both so… average?
It’s intentional that the reveal of the Wizard is underwhelming, but seeing Goldblum just play his same old self just didn’t cut it this time.
However, it just solidified the fact that our two main stars are the very heart of this film.
But Jonathan Bailey does get an honourable mention for playing the role of pretty-boy love interest Fiyero perfectly.
Making a true-to-the-source adaptation can go either way, especially when it’s a musical. But Jon M. Chu along with our leading ladies managed to inject so much magic into this film.
I loved it way more than I thought I would and am joining the masses in eagerly awaiting part two.
Year: 2024
Rating: M15+
Running Time: 160 MIN
Genre: Fantasy
Director: Jon M. Chu
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande-Butera[b], Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum
Production Studio: Universal Pictures
Distributor: Universal Pictures