This review contains spoilers in line with the plot of the original Broadway musical “Wicked.”
Having been a devoted “Wicked” fan since my primary school days, complete with attending the Broadway show decked out in my “Wicked” t-shirt and necklace, I approached this movie musical with all the skepticism of a die-hard critic.
The movie, the first of a two-part adaptation, runs two hours and 40 minutes– 10 minutes longer than the Broadway musical, adapted from Gregory Maguire’s book “Wicked.”
The story follows Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), the “Wicked Witch of the West,” and Glinda Upland (Ariana Grande), “Glinda the Good Witch,” as they form an unlikely friendship at Shiz University with a shared goal of meeting the Wizard of Oz.
At first, Glinda holds a disdainful attitude toward Elphaba as she receives attention and private lessons from Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), Glinda’s role model.
Eventually, the icy exteriors between the two begin to thaw when the university gathers for a dance at the Ozdust Ballroom.
Glinda invites Elphaba to attend the dance, lending her her grandmother’s raggedy old hat, setting her up for embarrassment. As their peers laugh while Elphaba dances, Glinda joins her– a stark contrast to her previous behavior.
The evolving friendship that forms after this moment, portrayed with a compelling blend of sharp humor and heartfelt emotion, is made all the more powerful by the immense acting talent of both Erivo and Grande.
Erivo and Grande’s portrayals both lived up to my expectations of how these characters would be on screen. This is not an easy feat, considering they had Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, the original Broadway actresses to play Elphaba and Glinda, to compete with.
Having first seen “Wicked” on Broadway with Jessica Vosk as Elphaba– a performance so memorable it set an incredibly high bar– it was hard to imagine anyone else stepping into these roles.
Yet, Erivo and Grande brought their own unique energy and depth to the characters, creating a cinematic experience that felt fresh while honoring the musical and book’s legacy.
The song “Popular,” however, fell short of my expectations, which was a particular disappointment given the countless hours I spent in middle school rehearsing and performing this duet with one of my best friends.
Grande’s rendition lacked the dramatic voice inflections that Chenoweth famously brought to the role, which muted some of Glinda’s exuberant personality in this scene. Additionally, her use of vibrato, while technically impressive, depleted some of the comedic charm of the scene, giving the vocals a more structured and less playful quality.
The costuming, on the other hand, took Glinda’s over-the-top personality to a whole new level. I thought I couldn’t be more obsessed with her looks after seeing the Broadway show back in 2016, but I was so wrong.
Grande entered the first scene wearing a pink bubble-like gown that appeared to be floating off her body. The sheer fabrics and extensive embellishments captured her effervescent personality without even a single word spoken.
The movie’s phenomenal costuming deserves praise, but its thought-provoking themes demand equal attention.
In the Broadway musical, a significant plot point revolves around Elphaba’s concern for animals losing their rights and being removed from society– a poignant issue as the animals have anthropomorphic traits like speaking and behaving like people. This storyline is present in the movie as well, but it is explored in much greater detail.
The film delves deeper into the societal implications of this discrimination, drawing clear parallels to real-world issues of marginalization and oppression. This deep dive adds layers to Elphaba’s character and underscores the stakes of her rebellion, making her transformation at the end of the film into the “Wicked Witch” all the more significant.
As Elphaba makes the symbolic change into the “Wicked Witch” after discovering Madame Morrible and the Wizard of Oz had ill intentions toward the animals all along, she exits the Emerald City singing the renowned ballad “Defying Gravity.”
Erivo’s exit performance in this iconic number had my jaw on the floor as she showcased her extraordinary vocal range and raw passion. Her ability to convey both vulnerability and strength through her voice made Elphaba’s departure not just powerful, but deeply moving.
This film will be hard to top in my list of favorites for the foreseeable future and my 13-year-old self and I are already eagerly anticipating the release of part two in November 2025.
Cecilia Wallace can be contacted at wall1238@stthomas.edu.