Synopsis: Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning and Oscar®-nominated powerhouse Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her green skin who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman gilded by privilege who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Apathy tends to be abundantly free-flowing for individuals who have never been threatened, felt endangered or had to fight for anything real. When moving about the world, gaining perspective and understanding the past is of the utmost importance. Believe it or not, you are not the center of the universe. It’s our collective efforts that keep our societies afloat. At some point in recent history, we forgot that. We’ve sadly begun to covet selfishness over kindness and decided that emotions and empathy are somehow a weakness. Despite how some act and many have come to think, cruelty and dismissiveness are not a strength nor are they noble or decent. Rediscovering the goodness, humility, and humanity within us all won’t be easy, but it is possible. If we take it one step at a time and remember that we’re all just trying to figure life out as it comes, the path to unity can be as visible as a yellow brick road.
“I don’t cause commotions, I am one.”
You may have seen Wicked on the stage but you’ve never seen it like this. Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked is a melodic spectacle with timeless themes. Whether it is acceptance of yourself and others, friendship, moral fortitude, overcoming stereotypes, or the dangers of propaganda and authoritarianism, this musical is more profound than it appears. As its vibrancy and rhythmic razzle-dazzle wows you, there is an incredibly important message and warning that we have failed to heed for a third time. With big performances and even bigger voices, fans new and old will not want to miss the magic.
Setting itself apart from the musical theatre that inspired it, on screen, Wicked explores Shiz University like never before. In doing so, comes a greater understanding of its characters and reverence for its themes. Furthermore, it sets the groundwork for a grander and more ruminating finale as this is actually part one of two films. Beginning similarly with Glinda descending from the sky as the citizens of Oz celebrate the demise of the Wicked Witch of the West at the hands of Dorothy and a bucket of water, the songs are early and often and potentially better than you’ve ever heard. While it’s visually stunning and musically satisfying, unfortunately, a few of the numbers overstay their welcome. Initially, it doesn’t appear to be an issue but with an almost 3-hour runtime, you may begin to question a few of the decisions.
“The past helps explain our present circumstances.”
Could this harmonic voyage have been accomplished in a singular outing? Yes. There’s a way to tell the same story without overextending it by hours and yield the same result. Fortunately, for most, it won’t be much of an issue. The story and what it offers are quite addictive and endlessly intriguing. I mean, who doesn’t love witnessing a little catty drama paired with a fully transformative outcome? We’ve all felt like we don’t belong and are chasing our heart desires. It’s socially and politically relevant with characters representing marginalized groups to fear-mongering wannabe dictators. The film is large in scale with beautiful production design and fantastic set pieces. Wait until you see how glorious the Emerald City and Oz look. The hair and makeup are stunning, and Elphaba being played by a Black woman just makes sense. Like Barbie, this is an event film. Fans will be decked out in either pink or green or a mixture of both, and if you’re like myself, who is relatively new to the Wicked world, enjoy the ride. You’ll laugh, you’ll sing, you’ll get upset and hopefully, you’ll leave with a smile. If you want a visual feast and to hear the marvelously sung songs the way they should be experienced, try to find a Dolby theater. Its rewatchability is medium.

Pace & Pop
It’s always interesting to discuss pace when the film is an extensive journey that flirts with a 3-hour runtime, and even more so when the realization hits that this is part one of two. There is a side of you that thinks, it doesn’t matter because with trailers, this is a 180-minute endeavor and regardless, a huge chunk of my day is gone. However, pacing is important as it determines whether you are locked in and fully engaged with the story or feel like pulling your hair out. Fortunately, I can report that you’ll mostly be fully immersed in all of the film’s vibrant musical wonders. That said, some of the songs do overstay their welcome. While the exploration of Shiz U and the Emerald City is appreciated, it slightly slows down and pulls focus from an important narrative. What popped for me was the chemistry between stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Not only are they independently radiant, but together, they are magic.

Characters & Chemistry
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Peter Dinklage, with Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande put their heart and soul into these performances. The role of Elphaba has been waiting for Erivo since its inception. Not only does it make the most sense, we all know who is at the forefront of most movements and is the most hated on, but we also know who is the strongest and the most resilient. Black women, if it wasn’t clear. Elphaba embodies what it means to live with purpose and Erivo sells it like no one else could. While Grande exudes Mean Girls energy, it’s the perfect contrast to the future Wicked Witch of the West. Their voices have to be experienced in the theater to be fully appreciated. I still have some of those high notes floating around in my head. The rest of the cast delivers great performances, but its two stars shine the brightest.
Wicked releases in theaters on November 22, 2024. Stay safe and find your good.
Rated: PG Runtime: 2h 41m Director: Jon M. Chu Screenplay: Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox Based on: the musical stage play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, from the novel by Gregory Maguire Producers: Marc Platt p.g.a., David Stone Executive Producers: Marc Platt p.g.a., David Stone Score: John Powell & Stephen Schwartz

You may have seen Wicked on the stage but you've never seen it like this. Wicked is a melodic spectacle with timeless themes. Whether it is acceptance of yourself and others, friendship, moral fortitude, overcoming stereotypes, or the dangers of propaganda and authoritarianism, this musical is more profound than it appears.
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GVN Rating 7.5
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