Based on the globally acclaimed and Tony-award winning musical Wicked – which has defied gravity itself with it’s staying power, celebrating it’s 20th birthday last year – the latest musical to movie adaptation certainly has a lot to live up to it. But with a huge fan base waiting in the wings, this beloved Wizard of Oz prequel could finally be the film which restores our love for big screen musicals following a string of disappointments and downright disturbing entries (here’s looking at you, Cats). Thankfully stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande more than fill the magical (ruby) shoes of the iconic Broadway and West End cast members before them, transporting viewers on an enchanting adventure to the Emerald City.
Directed by Jon M. Chu (In The Heights), Wicked follows the tale of the unlikely friendship between the tragically misunderstood Elphaba (Erivo) and her popular roommate Glinda (Grande) during their time at Shiz University. With the fate of the animals of Oz increasingly under threat from an unseen enemy, Elphaba travels to the Emerald City – with bestie Glinda in tow – to seek the help of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). But all is not as it appears and the pair’s friendship is pushed to the limits.
Kicking off events linked to the iconic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz with “No One Mourns the Wicked”, the adaptation quickly travels back in time to delve into the untold story of the witches of Oz for a faithful and thrillifying adaptation. For the uninitiated, this take (also loosely based on Gregory Maguire’s prequel novel) cleverly subverts expectations of the Ozian kind, spotlighting the wholly misunderstood actions of the individual behind the Wicked Witch of the West mantle. Through the lens of the powerful central friendship, we get a glimpse into the moving tale of hardship and discrimination Elphaba faced, along with her empowering transformation.
Adapting the first act of the musical, the first part of the two parter surprisingly comes with a rather bloated two hour 41 minute runtime, which may put some viewers off. The film surprisingly flies by though, with Jon M. Chu afforded extra time to expand upon this magical world, wonderfully bringing the classrooms of Shiz University, the multicoloured fields of Munchkindland and the bustling streets of the Emerald City to life with incredible size and scope, thanks to a number of huge sets and expanded roster of dancers. Each region has a distinct visual identity, thanks in part to Paul Tazewell’s unique costumes, immersing viewers into this magical world.
The lore of Oz is also further fleshed out, feeling like a much more immersive world, complete with added context to the plight of the animals and the Grimmerie. This does however come at the expense of certain character arcs and storylines, with developments around Nessarose, Boq and Fiyero seemingly shuffled to part two.
However, the adaptation only works as well as it does because of the incredible chemistry and talent of the two leading ladies, whose on-screen friendship is undoubtedly the beating heart of the film. Cynthia Erivo soars as the incredibly strong and resilient outcast who’s determined to fight for what’s right, whilst also bringing a heartbreaking vulnerability to the role. Her complex arc is indisputably the richest, coming to a powerful crescendo in the incredible rendition of ‘Defying Gravity’.
Ariana Grande is also a revelation, surpassing all expectations of accused stunt casting with her excellent physical comedy. She completely transforms into the role, perfectly capturing Glinda’s hilarious mannerisms (her hair toss is indeed excellent) and once shallow persona. Grande shines in fun crowd pleaser “Popular” but it’s the incredibly touching moment between Glinda and Elphaba at the Ozdust Ballroom in which the singer truly excels. Meanwhile, Jonathan Bailey channels his incredible Kenergy to bring the effortlessly charming Fiyero to the screen, with his fun take on “Dancing Through Life” almost stealing the show (someone please give him his own musical!) Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh are also a delight but somewhat underused.
Jon M. Chu brings his visual flair and unique framing from In The Heights, impressively directing the many fan favourite musical set pieces with excellently choreographed dance sequences and a raft of moving parts. “What is this Feeling?” is a particularly entertaining standout, along with the intricately detailed choreography amongst the spinning library of “Dancing Through Life”. There’s no denying the pure spectacle and riot of colour throughout, despite many criticising the lack of colour in the trailers. However, there is an issue with background lighting repeatedly washing out scenes.
Verdict
Despite the indulgent runtime, Wicked is a spellbindingly entertaining big screen experience which will certainly go down a treat with fans of the beloved musical. Jon M. Chu, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have defied expectations (and gravity!) to pull off this entertaining spectacle. Roll on November 2025 for part two!
