Not just another modern musical, but one of the best movies of the year. Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of the beloved prequel to The Wizard of Oz is magical, immersive, entertaining and vibrant. Ariana Grande sparkles as Glinda, The Good Witch of the South, in the role she was born to play. Her chemistry with Cynthia Erivo is the beating heart of this film. But the standout amongst even the most tactile of sets and jubilant numbers is Erivo’s performance as Elphaba: The Wicked Witch of the West.
Wicked is a radiant triumph that weaves the story of a young outsider discovering herself and her magic with a kaleidoscope of colours and songs that’ll leave you breathless. Elphaba joins the freshmen at Shiz University as the clear (and green) underdog, but has more power up her sleeves than every student combined. Though she’s used to being invisible—and is sometimes trampled as a result—Elphaba’s character foil and boisterous bestie Glinda is far from unpopular.
Their unlikely friendship is what makes this story so endearing and relatable. This iconic duo has graced the Broadway stage for decades and fans of these witches have been impatiently waiting for Chu’s adaptation to hit theaters. With the wait nearly over, it pleases us to say that every second is worth it. The film is exceptional! It combines the original source material with the spirit of the musical while adding its own flare, but maintaining the heart of this iconic friendship at its center the whole time.
Fans of the series have a lot to look forward to with Wicked. Grande is so hilariously fun to watch it's impossible to not love her. Erivo is perfectly earnest as Elphaba, with a perfect voice to match. But Jonathon Bailey steals the screen as Fiyero, with charisma that oozes with every wink and smile. Beyond the brilliant casting choices, which certainly include Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum, Chu’s talented team of production designers outdo themselves by building the world of Oz practically. It brings the fantastical element of this story down to a visceral level, enchanting audiences with Oz and Shiz University.
Most of the film’s early criticisms come from its lengthy runtime at two hours and forty minutes. On the contrary it seems the longer the show, the more room for Chu—and his munchkins—to play. Armed with innovative reinventions of some seminal classics, Chu and his team execute some bold takes with the soundtrack. Beyond Erivo and Grande’s electrifying chemistry, Wicked paints an honest and familiar tale about what it’s like to not fit in any of the boxes society lays out for you—on how to find the power to be who you are and stand up for what you believe in. Even if that means the world will see you as the villain.
The great origin story of The Wicked Witch of the West takes its latest form in John M. Chu’s live action adaptation Wicked in theaters everywhere on November 22nd.
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