Story Description: Review of the live-action movie adaptation of the musical Wicked
Pitched by: Saturn
Assigned to: Saturn
Due date: 11/25
Story Focus: How was the movie? What were the highs and lows? What are the best performances? How does it compare to the source material? Does the two-part structure work?
Sources:
Relevant links:
Information:
Word count:
Art:
Copyedited by:
Social Media caption:
Suggested headline:
____________________________________________________________________
Rating: 3/5
Over 85 years after Judy Garland stepped into technicolor for the first time as Dorothy Gale arrived in Oz, the classic villain from “The Wizard of Oz” is finally having her story told on the big screen in “Wicked.”
“Wicked” (2024) is a movie musical adaptation of the Broadway musical production of the same name, based on the book “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.”
The story by Gregory Maguire is in turn based on the 1939 movie musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” according to a Friday BBC article.
“Wicked” details the life of Elphaba Thropp, soon to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West, transitioning into adulthood by attending the magical Shiz University in Oz.
Her story in the “Wicked” film is based on the Broadway production with part one of the planned two-part film series ending where act one ends in the original play, on “Defying Gravity.”
Although it isn’t the most satisfying conclusion — and it doesn’t seem like it's trying to be — the film builds up to the moment enough for it to pay off.
For yet another retelling of a 124 year-old story, the movie “Wicked” manages to bring Oz to life in a new and intriguing way, even if it falls into overwrought Hollywood trappings from time to time.
For two hours and forty minutes, the film presents a smörgåsbord of fantastical visuals that solidify its unique Ozian identity. Grandiose set pieces and elaborate musical numbers fill the screen, but not to the point of drowning its main characters.
“Wicked” showcases Director Jon M. Chu’s attention to detail in crafting the various living environments of Oz.
From the cozy and quirky architecture of Munchkinland to the steampunk aesthetics of the Emerald City, the extensive use of practical sets in the film is appreciated.
Rather than stripping the musical’s theatricality and shoehorning it into a blockbuster format as seen with adaptations such as Disney’s “Into The Woods,” “Wicked” feels like an expanded theater production.
The movie achieves this by utilizing its larger than life musical numbers, additional scenic locations and dramatic cinematography that the film medium allows while balancing its Broadway charm.
This is immediately felt in the gripping opening number “No One Mourns The Wicked,” where dozens of residents in Munchkinland gather to celebrate the death of the “Wicked Witch” at the hands of Dorothy.
Glinda, the aspiring sorceress portrayed by Ariana Grande, reluctantly announces the death of Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and joins in the chorus with operatic vocals as the Munchkinlanders move in and out of the frame performing the stage choreography.
Glinda reflects on her relationship with Elphaba as everyone around her rejoices in her death, and the rest of the story follows the way their paths intertwined at Shiz University, growing from bitter adversaries to best friends.
Elphaba was born with green skin, which she is ostracized for throughout the story since birth, informing her character as the anti-hero protagonist in “Wicked.” Glinda, in contrast, is a popular and vain socialite looking to climb her way up the ranks at Shiz.
Erivo delivers a decent and believable Elphaba performance, capturing her youthful nonchalance and biting cynicism, though at times feeling a bit restrained.
Whereas Erivo embodies the character of Elphaba well, Grande never fully disappears into her role, but that does not necessarily detract from this portrayal of the “Good Witch.”
If any role is going to be slated for the star-studded casting of a popular celebrity, Glinda, the central popular celebrity figure in the story, feels like an appropriate choice.
Grande leans into the typecast as well as the cheeky stage humor of “Wicked,” making her performance enjoyable overall.
The two leads also have incredible chemistry in their banter, first blooming in the song, “What Is This Feeling?” where Elphaba and Glinda articulate their feelings of “unadulterated loathing” for each other.
Erivo and Grande also make great vocal leads for the cast, with Erivo’s chill-eliciting performance of “Defying Gravity,” capping off the movie’s finale.
In some numbers, such as “The Wizard and I,” stellar vocal performances were flattened by an iffy direction, but in others such as “One Short Day,” the musical elements shined.
Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible provide mediocre vocal chops, but Goldblum’s eccentricity and Yeoh’s regality capture their characters well enough.
Jonathan Bailey is a charismatic Fiyero, Ethan Slater crafts a loveable Boq, and Marissa Bode delivers a refreshingly independent Nessarose, culminating in a cohesive and entertaining cast performance, down to the film’s idiosyncratic “Ozmapolitan” grammar.
The film stretches past the Broadway runtime despite only depicting the first act, which might be an issue for some.
However, the extended cut does allow the characters and their moments to breathe, adding context and depth surprisingly without ruining the pacing. The Broadway show has a rushing problem, and Chu’s adaptation seems to want to remedy that.
‘’ “”
