Is the Epic Conclusion ‘For Good?’: Wicked: For Good Review

When ‘Wicked’ hit screens last year, it was a sensation. Drawing in legions of Broadway fans and new fans alike. Ending on a cliffhanger, ‘Wicked’ left a lot of expectations and a huge shadow. The question became: “Will the finale live up to the beginning?” With the release of ‘Wicked: For Good,’ the epic conclusion to the ‘Wicked’ tale, the audience finale has that answer. Unfortunately, while ‘Wicked: For Good’ is a good film, it falls short of the magic that made ‘Wicked’ special.

‘Wicked: For Good’ picks right off where its predecessor left out. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is an outcast who is terrorizing the people of Oz. Glinda (Ariana Grande), to her credit, has become the monument of good that Oz needed. Cast by the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba sets out to expose the Wizard for the fraud that he is.

The story itself is compelling. Most people grow up with an appreciation for the 1939 classic, ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ or doing renditions in our Elementary schools, so there’s a familiarity that exists between the audience and the film. That, however, also works to a detriment. I spent a lot of my time wondering when they would pull in the story that I was familiar with. The space for my mind to wander was left by rather poor pacing choices. The build-up felt very slow and then took off like a rocket, almost like the filmmakers realized they needed to fit in an ending. It just felt too long in places and too short in others.

Cast Chemistry

From press interviews to the awards ceremony, ‘Wicked’ is a product of cast chemistry. It is apparent that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande REALLY are friends and have a good relationship. There is a true love there that runs deep, and it is very clearly displayed on screen.

That chemistry, however, doesn’t outshine the performances of their fellow castmates. Ethan Slater’s portrayal of Boq is one of ‘Wicked: For Good’s more standout performances. Making the most of the screen time he’s given, Slater brings a defeated brokenness to Boq that gives him substance that’s important to his character arc.

READ MORE: Wicked in the Land of Oz: A Look Back at ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’

Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum return, both giving exemplary performances as Madame Morrible and Oz, respectively. Erivo’s chemistry extends beyond Grande, making the relationship between Fiyero, played masterfully by Jonathan Bailey, and Elphaba.

The cast is truly wonderful. I’m genuinely going to miss seeing them on pressers and on screen. Huge shout-out to Colman Domingo, who may have had few lines, but he absolutely made the most of what he was given.

‘The Girl in the Bubble’

‘Wicked’ is known as much for its music as its story of belonging. ‘Wicked: For Good’ MOSTLY lives up to the previous film’s gargantuan songs. The songs are good, and the set pieces are fun and bright. John M. Chu knows how to direct a musical. I found myself lost in each performance, stunned by just how astounding what I was witnessing was.

Ariana Grande’s performance of ‘The Girl in the Bubble’ is heartwrenching. She nails the longing and the sadness with each note perfectly pitched. Not to be outdone, Cynthia Erivo dominates her performance of ‘No Good Deed.’ It felt huge. It looked huge. Erivo blew me away with her performance. Both Grande and Erivo have really been a joy to watch. They have been an absolute treat for fans of musicals and the theater.

The Audience Makes the Experience

My experience with this film was 1000% enhanced by the audience with whom I saw the film. It’s been lost in recent years how much of an impact a group experience can have on a film. We experience the same emotions as we traverse the worlds that we are being presented with. Seeing Cap wield Mjolnir wouldn’t hit the same way if you were home alone. You know it. I know it. There’s no comparison. ‘Wicked: For Good’ continues that tradition. Hearing the people around me react to the screen and hum the songs made me smile and absolutely added to the experience. Go to a theater, people!

Final Analysis

‘Wicked: For Good’ had huge silver slippers to fill. While it doesn’t exactly meet the lofty expectations set for it by its predecessor, ‘Wicked: For Good’ is still a GOOD film, worthy of a viewing in its own right. The song and dance sequences alone will bring audiences back for the sing-along version that will most assuredly hit theaters.

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