Review: ‘Wicked’ is a Cinematic Spectacle to Behold

While practice does typically make perfect, trying to do something over and over without it coming to fruition is often not a good sign. The musical Wicked opened on Broadway back in 2003, based on Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, a reimagining of The Wizard of Oz with a more favorable interpretation of the much-maligned green villain. The musical continues to run more than two decades later as the first half of the cinematic adaptation finally arrives in theaters, and – good news! It was well worth the wait.

As everyone celebrates the death of the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda (Arianda Grande-Butera) arrives in her bubble to speak to the adoring crowd, who ask if it’s true that the two of them were once friends. Years earlier, the peppy and airheaded Galinda (emphasis on the extra vowel) arrives at Shiz University desperate to learn magic from headmistress Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), but she has her eyes set on someone else with obvious ability: Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a lifelong outcast because of her green skin. Forced to room together, Galinda and Elphaba navigate an icy start to become true friends whose journey together takes them to the most magical place of all, the Emerald City of Oz, in search of an audience with the all-powerful Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).

Any musical adapted for the big screen brings with it a certain degree of anxiety because of how it will inevitably be different. But what’s wonderful about this film, which does run long at two hours and forty minutes (just shy of the entire stage musical’s time that includes an intermission) is that the approach undertaken by those involved was purely additive. Every musical number is preserved, with two new songs set to debut in the second film. The extra time allows for even more dramatic staging and choreography, a focus on the film’s dazzling visuals, and an exploration of certain story elements, like the treatment of animals in this story’s mesmerizing universe. Having the writers of the musical, Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, on board is an asset, as well as the show’s producer and longtime advocate Marc Platt.

Wicked takes full advantage of its new format to expand on an already eye-popping experience. Close-ups make the musical numbers feel completely different but just as effective, using marvelously constructed set pieces and showing the grandeur of Shiz and Oz in a way that can’t quite be captured on stage. The flying monkeys and other VFX-assisted elements are also impressive, but it’s the smaller things, like the use of magic and slightly larger-than-life variations of this world, including its modified vocabulary, that truly prove memorable. This is a stunning visual experience from start to finish with soaring cinematography, production design, costumes, and visual effects that fully deserves to – and likely will – sweep the breadth of technical awards at the Oscars and its many precursors.

What devotees of the musical will be most anticipating is the quality of the performances, and, like everything else about this film, they don’t disappoint. Tony winner Erivo pours her heart into Elphaba, tapping into the loneliness she’s felt throughout her life and bellowing it out in powerful song that captures her spirit and determination. While she did get her start on Broadway, Grande-Butera doesn’t have nearly the same list of acting credits as her costar but astounds as the impossibly perky foil to Erivo’s more sardonic and reserved Elphaba. Grande-Butera steals every scene with her commitment to Galinda’s speech patterns and flair, flipping her hair frequently as if it was its own character. Jonathan Bailey delights in the supporting cast as her love interest Fiyero, also offering a fantastic interpretation of someone who hasn’t been called upon too often to be serious but might be willing to give it a try.

From its opening moments, this is a movie meant for the big screen. The decision to split it into two parts (adapting acts one and two separately) may not entice those who feel that this is far too long to spend on a story that fits into half the time, but most watching it are likely to be enthralled enough that having to wait a full year for part two is the only length-related issue they’ll remember. This is a shining example of how stage musicals should be brought to the screen, with the willing participation of many of the original’s creatives and the time and effort taken to find the best technical partners and stars to make it truly show-stopping. Director Jon M. Chu delivers what may be the most exciting and involving film of the year, sure to delight existing fans and more than likely to entice an altogether new audience as well.

Movie Rating: 9/10

Awards Buzz: This film is arriving at exactly the right moment when moviegoers – and awards voters – could use something positive to celebrate. While it probably would have been a technical juggernaut in the below-the-line races anyway, its position now could catapult Erivo and Grande to Oscar nominations, along with the film for Best Picture and maybe even a bid for Chu if they love it that much. Expect this film – with its mix of well-received talent on- and off-camera, to be one of the nominations leaders this year.