Wicked: Musical Triumph or Wickedly Bad?

Raising the Curtain

Grab your broomstick and start practicing those lyrics, because one of the biggest films of the year is flying into theaters at full volume! 

Wicked is the long-awaited film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, which first premiered in 2003. Based on a 1995 book of the same name by Gregory Maguire, the play is set in the world of The Wizard of Oz and traces the relationship between Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. 

Given the success seen by the stage show, it made sense to bring the story to the silver screen. In fact, this film’s production goes all the way back to 2016, having faced a bit of a bumpy road to finally reach its destination. These included inconveniences such as director Stephen Daldry leaving the project and difficulties of the 2023 Hollywood strikes. But alas, after much tribulation, the film is finally here just in time for the holiday season. 

The efforts of the filmmaking team paid off massively, with critics and audiences alike praising the film for its faithfulness to the source material and music. Those involved in the Wicked brand–such as author Maguire and stage talents Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel–have also spoken highly of the feature. Even at the box office, the film is sitting at nearly $400 million worldwide as of Wednesday, Dec. 5, breaking several records in its opening weekend and staying strong over Thanksgiving. 

I had feelings of both optimism and skepticism in the days leading to the movie’s release. While I was amused by the concept and reviews, I have not seen the original stage show or read the book. However, I still sported an open mind as I pulled into the parking lot of Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas on Thursday, Nov. 21, joined by fellow Chronicle writer and fan of the musical Joe Hamway. 

Walking out of the movie, it raised the question: could this movie cast a spell that will draw audiences to it, or does it truly live up to the name, Wicked?

How to Be Popular

Directed by Jon M. Chu of Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, Wicked sees two students–Elphaba and Galinda–attend Shiz University in the land of Oz. As their friendship grows stronger, they are invited to meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, where everything begins to go downhill. The film boasts big-name talents, including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Peter Dinklage, and Jonathan Bailey, among others.

I am pleased to report that the efforts of the filmmakers paid off extraordinarily and made for a terrific adaptation of a classic musical. Wicked is a powerful and engaging spectacle that does its source material justice and can be enjoyed by all viewers, regardless of whether they’re familiar with the lore or not. 

Namely, the music is phenomenal on all fronts. Whether it's the whimsical score by John Powell and Stephen Schwartz or numbers with lyrics from Schwartz, these tunes kept the film consistently engaging and left me eager for more. Between these two forms of music, I think the numbers themselves have much more draw and appeal, as they bring some of the most beloved lyrics and energetic choreography in theatre to life in a modern, engaging way.

“[I have] seen the Broadway production twice,” said Hamway. “I found watching this music come to life on screen both surreal and long-awaited.”

What also benefits the musical numbers are the performances of the cast, who all do spectacularly. Everyone gets their own time to shine in the movie, especially in the musical department. For instance, I loved the energy Bailey provided in his rendition of “Dancing Through Life” and Goldblum’s quiet yet endearing performance of “A Sentimental Man.”

However, the standouts are Erivo and Grande. These two have fantastic chemistry together, helped by strong dialogue, development, and interactions to keep viewers engaged. 

Grande stands out in her performance of “Popular,” done in an upbeat tempo and coinciding with charming lyrics, making for one of the most smile-worthy moments in the movie. 

Erivo’s grand moment comes from “Defying Gravity,” teased in the film’s trailers. Through her emotional delivery of the lyrics, she provides a powerful performance, making for one of the most mind-blowing climaxes I’ve seen in any film all year.

Following the Yellow Brick Road

One of the biggest drawing points of this film is the story, given its source material of a beloved musical that adds its own spin to the classic Wizard of Oz plot. As someone who is not very familiar with the Broadway show, I was very impressed with the story and how the picture managed to work with it despite its limitations.

Wicked is the first part of a planned duology, with the second installment eyeing a November 2025 release. Admittedly, this was a concern of mine going into the film, especially considering that this movie’s runtime, 160 minutes, is about the same as the original two-act musical. 

Yet, I appreciated what the film managed to accomplish, as it told an engaging story with well-developed lead characters, adding strong scenes of interaction that ensure the pacing does not rush or drag. In fact, as I was leaving, I felt a strong desire to check out the musical and even revisit the classic Wizard of Oz film. 

Despite the film’s accomplishments in engagement, it did lead to a few faults in the writing. Primarily, there are a few characters who are difficult to keep track of. Despite the talents of many big-name performers–including Dinklage and Yeoh–some Ozians don’t get much screen time or development, making them easy to forget in the grand scheme of the picture. Even so, I can somewhat forgive this since there is more to come in Part Two; I’m hoping these characters will get more time to shine in some way during the second adventure.

Effects of the Spell

Another factor that drew me to this film was the setting and visual style. Wicked takes place in the land of Oz, which has not been seen in a major theatrical feature since 2013’s Oz the Great and Powerful. This movie has a fantastic flair and was stunning to watch on the big screen. 

Whether it be the gleaming green of the Emerald City or the straightforward yet whimsical take on Shiz University, the film explores many different locations within the land, providing strong eye candy with each new area. The variety in location adds more to the engagement factor, with bright colors and grand scope shining through the projector, helping Oz to stand out as a character of its own. This also translates to the production design and costumes, which correspond greatly with the cinematography and character’s personality traits.

“The choreography, set pieces, and cinematography are undeniably impressive,” said Hamway. “[They capture] the epic spectacle.”

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for a decent amount of the visual effects. While there are many moments when the effects shine, there were some that easily stuck out and came off as distracting. Specifically, anthropomorphic animals–like Dinklage’s Dr. Dillamond–stick out like ruby slippers in a grass field. While the character designs themselves are solid, the appearance of the final product was cheap and easy to recognize, taking a bit away from the illusion set up by the film.

Defying Gravity

Overall, despite some characters lacking screen time and effects sticking out, Wicked is a great adaptation of its classic source material, thanks to its bright visual style, phenomenal music, engaging writing, strong acting, and terrific lead characters. 

This is a film which has a wide appeal. Not only will fans of the musical and Oz in general adore the creative take on the source, but newcomers will delight in this movie’s performances and music. 

“Wicked left me moved, in tears multiple times, and eager for more,” said Hamway. “[It is] one of the most spellbinding theatrical experiences of the year.”

I went into this movie with an open mind and left blasting the soundtrack with an itch to see it again. I also can’t wait to see how this story continues in the second part next year. 

Wicked is now playing in theaters nationwide, including the nearby Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas. If you can find a showing that isn’t sold out yet, I’d highly recommend checking it out. 

This film soared high above expectations and will strongly resonate with audiences no matter if they’re a wicked witch or wonderful wizard.

My Rating: