Okay see if you can follow me. “Wicked” is the first film in a two-part movie adaptation of the Broadway stage musical of the same name which is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel which was inspired by the “Oz” book series which provided the source material for the beloved 1939 Victor Fleming movie musical, “The Wizard of Oz”. Whew.
“Wicked” is a $150 million fantasy musical directed by Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”). Co-written by the duo of Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, it tells a fantastical story set in the Land of Oz that’s loaded with easy to spot social subtext. “Wicked” is a movie of two halves – a fun and comically-charged first half and a more adventurous yet plodding second half which is where the film’s lengthy 160-minute runtime can be felt. Meanwhile its visuals are a mixed bag, offering some elaborate practical sets but with muted digital effects that rarely wow the way they intend to.
The movie opens with the citizens of Munchkinland getting news that the Wicked Witch of the West is dead. As they celebrate, Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande) arrives to join the festivities. As she’s about to depart, a young girl asks the Barbie-pink Glinda if it’s true that she and the Witch were once friends. She answers by telling the gathered Munchkins (and us) the backstory of Elphaba Thropp, the future Wicked Witch of the West.
From there we’re transported back several years where we are introduced to Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo). Born with green skin and imbued with suppressed magical powers, Elphaba has had a tough life marked by ridicule and loneliness. She arrives at Shiz University (and no, the dean isn’t Snoop Dogg) on orientation day to drop off her paraplegic little sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode). Also arriving is Galinda Upland (Grande), a popular and pampered rich girl who we quickly learn is impervious to her own privilege.
After an unplanned display of Elphaba’s powers literally shakes up the campus, the school’s Dean of Sorcery Studies, Madam Morrible (a miscast Michelle Yeoh) agrees to teach Elphaba privately much to the chagrin of Galinda who wanted to be her pupil. At first Galinda’s jealousy (mixed with her snobbery) leads her to humiliate Elphaba. But an unexpected act of kindness by Elphaba opens Galinda’s eyes and the two become unexpected friends despite their polar opposite personalities.
The entire university segment is “Wicked” at its best. The humor is spot-on with Grande’s pin-point timing bringing most of the film’s biggest laughs. She nails Galinda’s oblivious nature and is the perfect target for Erivo’s witty sarcasm. While the big musical numbers are showier and grab more attention, it’s the comic energy that really drives the first half. And while there are a couple of semi-memorable tunes, it was the well written and delivered humor that surprised me the most.
The movie does introduce several more characters, none of whom are given enough depth to leave much of a mark. There’s Pfannee (Bowen Yang), Galinda’s fawning college friend. There’s Boq Woodsman (Ethan Slater), a lovesick Munchkin who has the hots for Galinda. Peter Dinklage voices Dr. Dillamond, a talking goat who teaches history and leads an underground movement to restore animal rights. And there is the new transfer Fiyero Tigelaar (Jonathan Bailey), a dashing prince from Winkie Country.
The movie shifts after Elphaba receives an invitation to travel to The Emerald City where she’ll meet The Wonderful Wizard of Oz played by the always irresistible Jeff Goldblum. Refusing to let her nervous friend go alone, Galinda (now going by Glinda for a pretty funny reason) hops the train with Elphaba and they set out on what becomes an unexpected adventure. This is also where the humor vanishes, the effects get a little shakier, and the story begins to drag as it finally builds to its cliffhanging crescendo.
Despite putting in a lot of effort and even more studio money, “Wicked” doesn’t quite dazzle the way it wants to. It’s an uneven and unwieldy production that packs some early laughs but never soars either as a musical or a fantasy epic. It’s mostly due to the storytelling which is hampered by its inconsistent pacing, underdeveloped plot-lines, and heavy-handed (and at times patronizing) messaging. And neither the sub-par visuals or large-scale musical numbers are enough to fall back on.
VERDICT – 2.5 STARS
Keith & the Movies 
Aw, that’s a shame. That’s a fair amount of potential gone down the drain.
A lot of people like it though. I’m a bit in the minority.
Come on, people, you’ve got $150 million to make a good movie. How can these things flop!?!? Makes me a little nauseous.
It has a pretty big following and (surprisingly) it’s getting quite a bit of awards chatter. I don’t see it though. Definitely not awards worthy in my book.
Looks like all looks no substance.
p.s. and a tired plot!
I’m still on the fence about seeing this. I want to see it for the cast and look but I don’t like Jon M. Chu as the only thing he did that was worth watching is Crazy Rich Asians as I don’t like anything else he’s done from what I’ve seen from him so far. I still haven’t forgiven him for that awful stunt he did with Jem & the Holograms.
I’m not high on Chu either and I agree about his filmography. This one doesn’t enhance it IMO.
It’s gone big at the box office. What do you think are the main reasons so many people like it?
Don’t know really. I figure it had a pretty solid fanbase baked into it considering it was such a popular Broadway production. And I’m assuming Grande probably still has a loyal following. And to their credit, it was promoted pretty well.
I actually enjoyed the movie, although I respect your opinion.
Thanks. It has a lot of fans which I can appreciate. Just couldn’t get over certain issues.
Wow, I couldn’t disagree with your final score more. My mom and I got free tickets to go see this a couple of weeks ago, and it was one of the best movies I’ve seen in years. In fact, this is my movie of the year. I loved everything about it. It touched me on an emotional level in a way that no other movie this year has, which musicals rarely do. I loved the execution here. That said, I can see how some people wouldn’t like it, especially diehard fans of the Wizard of Oz. It’s not perfect, and there are some pacing issues, and some of the characters did get left in the dust, but I think the overall experience was incredible. It was visually stunning and the chemistry between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande was amazing. Also, the song that closes out the movie is going to be the one to beat.
You aren’t alone. It definitely has its fans.
it was terrible…. Not a firm story. No sense of good and evil clearly expressed. Boring as shit. Music unmemorable. Where’s the Pinocchio writers of today? Or have they all disappeared. We need a renaissance; art is dead! What are we teaching the next generation… Bullshit.
Great, honest review. I suffered through it yesterday and almost fell asleep twice. I don’t understand a culture that would embrace such a piece of below average mediocrity.
No wonder we have the politicians we do.
I laughed quite a bit in the first half but even it had its flaws. And making it through the second half became a chore. Kinda surprised at the near universal praise it is getting.
I Think Ariana Grande would be great choice as Eva Perón In a Evita (musical) West End revival
I Think Wicked 2024 will make $1 Billion at the Box Office!
I Think Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba In film adaptation of Wicked is once great Casting of All Time
I liked this film
It definitely has its fans.
I Think Cynthia Erivo Is the G.O.A.T.
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