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I, along with many others, was part of the Wicked craze that swept through in the early 2000’s. Whether it was singing the songs, seeing people walk around with the novel the show is based on, or seeing it represented in other shows like Fox’s ‘Glee,’ this show was absolutely everywhere.
When it was announced they were finally making it into a movie, I was cautiously optimistic, but didn’t think it could deliver the same level of passion and excitement as the original Broadway show. I’m happy to report that I was absolutely right and this movie doesn’t match the level of the original: It exceeds it.
Director Jon Chu takes some big swings with this adaptation and none of them feel misplaced or unnecessary. From giving theatrical-cheesy moments more nuance, to not shying away from representing the queer community that helped make this show so successful, this movie is unapologetically what it should be: a love letter to those that have been on stage, in the audience, or enjoying Wicked content from home for over 20 years.
The production design and costume design shine here as they bring Oz, along with its surrounding communities to life. Each location and population were unique, intriguing, and easily identifiable with sets and costumes that elevated the performance more than would ever be capable of on a live stage. The creative use of the scenery during dance numbers is especially well done and thought out.
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The big question going into this movie is obvious: can Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande really live up to the legacy of Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth? The answer is a celebratory ‘ABSOLUTELY.’ Both Erivo and Grande were seemingly born to play these characters and their chemistry together is nothing short of magical.
Erivo shines as her take on Elphaba feels truly genuine to the character and offers a varied performance from her soft spoken, vulnerable scenes to her most energetic and defiant moments. Grande’s comedic timing and homage to Chenoweth’s version of the character elevate the role to new levels. Grande and Erivo are both perfect casting and not only do they fill the shoes of their predecessors, they wear them better than ever.
The rest of the cast does a great job and serves well as a compliment to the leading ladies. Jonathan Bailey delivers an electric and seductive performance as Fiyero while Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum are excellent supporting characters as Madame Morrible and the Wizard. It is also worth mentioning that while Bowen Yang’s Pfannee doesn’t have much to do in the script, he still manages to be an effective scene stealer every time he is on screen.
Of course no musical review would be complete without talking about arguably the most iconic part of the original show: the music. Most people going to see this movie will at least have some familiarity with one or two songs while many people will know each song down to the lyrics, notes, and even the orchestration. I was eager to compare the new soundtrack to the old and I thought there would be some songs that no new version could compete with. After all, how do you overshadow Menzel’s ‘Defying Gravity’ or Chenoweth’s ‘Popular?’ Evidently, the answer is by hiring Grande and Erivo. Incredibly, I prefer every single song from the movie version to the original broadway cast album. My mind is absolutely blown.
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The movie manages to keep the true musical theater feel of the songs, but elevates them with more full orchestration, slight changes that are welcome surprises to veterans of the show, and the magical voices of Erivo and Grande. Erivo and Grande bring more youthful timbres to their vocal performance and are more believable to be portraying college aged students. Erivo is capable of belting out the most difficult songs while maintaining the warmth in her voice and the nuance that Grande brings to every song she is a part of is no small feat.
From the very first frame to the last, ‘Wicked’ has done what no other stage musical has accomplished: Create a film version of a musical that elevates the original. Not a single second of the two hour and forty minute runtime was wasted and I never found myself getting bored or antsy. This film is more relevant than ever in today’s political landscape and leaves you thinking well after leaving the theater thanks to the directing decisions and nuanced performances by the cast.
Jon Chu has managed to make not just a tribute to the original musical, but also something that is special on its own to a brand new audience. This movie is a wonderful example of what a stage musical brought to the big screen should be and is an absolute must-watch in theaters. Unlike many recent movie musicals, this film is worthy of theaters and should not be discounted as a streaming movie.
