Wicked
Wicked the Musical has been astounding audiences in theatres across the world since 2003, the stage show is loosely based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and a film has been promised for many years now so there were high expectations going into this. As a fan of the show since a child I hoped this film would do the story justice and would be able to bring the magical feeling of the original piece to the big screen, so to say I was pleased with the final product would be an understatement, it is nothing short of perfection! This is however only part 1 of 2, it is effectively act 1 of the musical, so ends after ‘Defying Gravity’, we do have to wait 12 months for the second half and the conclusion to the story, but if part 1 is anything to go by, the second instalment will be breath-taking!
Wicked is a ‘prequel’ to The Wizard of Oz, and this link is brought to the forefront with the title card opening in the same style as the 1939 classic. The film opens in Munchkin-land, where the news of the death of ‘The Wicked Witch of the West’ brings celebration and joy to the people of the land, they celebrate the end of her reign over Oz. Glinda the Good arrives, via bubble no less and when asked if she was friends with the Wicked Witch, she takes us back to their time as roommates at Shiz University, this is where the rest of the story takes place. This is a story of discrimination, love and friendship with comedy and heartbreak taking us to the depths of our feelings.
There is no doubt that everyone involved in this film, clearly has a love for the original musical. It has been made with grace and respect for the source material and stays true to the story and content. Jon M Chu has done an incredible job of directing this piece, bringing what is a theatrical spectacle to the screen is no mean feat, and he has turned this into an epic piece of cinema. This has all the feel of a big old style MGM musical with modern techniques used for the practical effects and design of the beautiful land of Oz.
Casting is where this film really shines, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande taking on the huge roles of Elphaba and Galinda, they work perfectly together, and you truly believe their friendship. Grande in particular stands out here, not only for her outstanding vocal skills but by also showing us a depth to Glinda that we don’t see in the stage production, she is the light and fluffy blonde but here we see more layers to her, we see clearly the inner turmoil she goes through during her story. Erivo was born to play the role of Elphaba, she shows us her vulnerability as well as the fire she has deep within her and her sense of justice and morals lead every choice she makes. Jonathan Bailey is Fiyero, and he is the perfect leading man here, with his suave British accent, his charisma and charm could melt any cold heart.
I would be amiss not to mention how ‘for the fans’ this film is, there are so many ‘easter eggs’ or references to both the stage production and The Wizard of Oz that I couldn’t keep track of them all. For die-hard Wicked fans the ‘One Short Day’ sequence is an utter joy and brought me so much excitement with a new music section and some very special cameos.
The design of the film must also be spoken about, it is absolutely breath-taking. Designer Nathan Crowley has truly brought to life this enchanting world with it’s bright colours, unusual shaped buildings and the glorious Emerald City which looks inviting and metropolitan.
With a run time of 2hrs40m (longer than the entire stage production) there was a concern it would feel slow and dragged out, I was very surprised how quickly time passed and at no point felt the pace slowed down. It is a well-structured film and certainly leaves us wanting more!
Wicked was reviewed on the 25th of November 2024, it is avaliable in cinemas now across the country.
Review written by Rosie Browne
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