WICKED is one of the greatest pieces of art and the best movie musical of the 21st century—if not of all time. The film follows the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo—there are no words to describe the impact she has on screen, but I’ll try later in this review), and Glinda the Good Witch (played by Ariana Grande, whose performance has genuinely changed my life). The film tells the origin story of what happened before THE WIZARD OF OZ.
I’ve already seen this movie three times, and it still leaves me speechless. Over the past seven days, my mind has been consumed by everything involving this story, cast, and soundtrack. WICKED is perfect. It is absolutely perfect and somehow gets even better with every watch.
The film’s runtime is 2 hours and 40 minutes, and while it doesn’t drag to the point where you’re wishing for the credits, during my first watch, I did find myself thinking every twenty minutes, “Oh, I’m still here!” That said, I hold all my love for this, so there could’ve been an additional two hours and I’d remain seated. By my third watch, the movie felt shorter and shorter, which is wonderful—especially since I worried the repeated viewings would’ve had the opposite effect.
Before diving into the movie, I need to touch on the musical it’s based on. I first discovered WICKED when I was around eight years old and just starting to watch musicals. Beyond loving the songs POPULAR and DEFYING GRAVITY, I didn’t know much about the story or have a strong connection to the phenomenon.
That changed when, at ten years old, my dad got tickets for me and my mom to see it in person. Like so many theater kids, the experience changed my life. From that moment on, I became OBSESSED with the story—it was all my brain could think about for a verryyyyyy long time. At the time, there were already vague rumors of a movie adaptation, but it took six more years before Jon M. Chu signed on as director. From that point forward, I followed every update, counting down the days until this adaptation hit theaters. The final result exceeded even my highest expectations.
The movie stays VERY true to the original musical. The Broadway show runs just ten minutes shorter than WICKED, which is just the first half of the adaptation, which means the film doesn’t cut or change any songs, unlike many movies based on musicals.
I was talking to my friend about how I think movie musicals need to pass two tests:
- Is it a good standalone film?
- Does it have a good connection to the original story?
WICKED passes both tests with FLYING colors. Every song is pleasing to the senses in every way—vocals, choreography, and performances are all stunning. There are only two songs that feel weaker: SOMETHING BAD and SENTIMENTAL MAN. (In case you were wondering when you should go to the bathroom.) However, the big numbers—you’ll recognize them even if you’re not a Broadway fan—are absolutely iconic and could not have been done with any more justice.
The cast is just mind-blowing. No one falls flat, from Cynthia Erivo belting the end of DEFYING GRAVITY to a munchkin background dancer you only see in a split-second frame. Every person on set radiates joy and commitment.
Cynthia Erivo’s performance is astounding. While some might assume she would naturally deliver excellence, she exceeds even those sky-high expectations – I’ve seen some praise for her performance, but not nearly enough. I think she is the most well-rounded and fleshed-out Elphaba and I think she didn’t just manage to pull that off due to it being a film. Her vocals were just mind-blowing and will stay with me forever. Elphaba being played by a Black woman (even though, yes, she’s green) adds an additional layer of depth and resonance to the role. She just stuns in every second she is on that screen. There is so much power and emotion in every note she churns out. Just flawless and a performance that will go down in history.
Ariana was the performance that changed me for good. Wow. Simply just wow. I expected her to be good and not over “popify” the role but even then, she did so much more than I ever expected. When she said that she was going to take such good care of this role she truly meant it. Cynthia and Ariana have a twin-flame type of bond on that screen and the energy that flows between them is astounding.
Jonathan Bailey is just about the most charismatic Fiyero we ever could’ve hoped for. I know EVERYONE in all three showings I’ve seen so far was going feral over that man. As hot as he is, I must take a second to praise my personal crush in the movie, Ethan Slater. Call me Ariana Grande because I too am a blonde, pink-loving girl who is head over heels for Ethan Slater. He is so incredibly perfect as Boq!!! He has the voice of an angel (or, SpongeBob…) and you just feel so deeply for him and his silliness, and without potentially spoiling anything about the sequel, let’s just say…if you know, you know.
The supporting cast—Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, and Peter Dinklage—delivers equally memorable performances that perfectly complement the leads.
Jon M. Chu’s love for WICKED and THE WIZARD OF OZ shines through in every frame. The nods, foreshadowing, and Easter eggs are crafted with immense care. Even if you’ve only seen the 1939 film, you could watch this movie 100 times and still notice new details.
Visually, this cinematography was stunning and there was not a single shot that wasn’t pleasing to look at. I truly hope Jon M. Chu directs every other movie musical that will ever be made for the rest of time. Give him all the contracts after this!
As a theater kid, film lover, and human being, I am deeply pleased with this adaptation. WICKED is still in theaters (as of November 27, 2024, though I predict it will run for months and likely see a short rerelease before the sequel). I implore you to watch it, even if you’re not a fan of musicals or THE WIZARD OF OZ. There is something in WICKED for everyone.
