Be prepared to “defy gravity” after watching the sensational new “Wicked” movie theaters on November 22, 2024. The story originates from the 1995 novel written by Gregory Maguire, and follows the plot of Joe Montello’s successful Broadway musical. “Wicked” is so loved it is still on Broadway after almost twenty two years making it the fourth-longest running musical ever.
“Wicked” is a prequel to the famous book and movie “The Wizard of Oz.” It tells the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch Glinda. Through the prequel, we learn the Wicked Witch’s real name is Elphaba and the story that leads to the events of “The Wizard of Oz.”
“Wicked” features commanding vocal performances by powerhouse duo Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Galinda and Elphaba, respectively. Erivo portrays Elphaba as a bright young woman who has supernatural powers, yet fails to fit in with her peers due to her striking green skin color. Grande as Glinda is loved by all and, well, popular. Opposites attract and the two become best friends after rooming together at their magical school called Shiz University. This can teach us that first impressions are not always correct, and giving people a chance can lead to the best relationships of your life.
Elphaba struggles with deep-seated family issues and the problem of not fitting in her entire life, making her keep to herself and slow to trust others. Glinda, on the other hand, comes from a sheltered background and learns from Elphaba throughout their time at school together. This leads to their friendship, as well as one with the new carefree student Prince Fiyero, played by Jonathan Bailey.
The pair goes on to meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, played by Jeff Goldblum, when they sense something is wrong. The friends learn about an underground movement in Oz which involves their beloved goat professor, voiced by Peter Dinklage.
The musical energy, bright colors, realistic set, and excitement of “Wicked” made this film stand out for me. Instead of using computer generated images or CGI, the film built most of the sets with real material. In one scene, they even planted 9 million tulips to bring Munchkinland to life. I also loved the comedic timing in many of the scenes, especially interactions with Grande’s character Glinda. It definitely lived up to the expectations of a blockbuster released at Thanksgiving.
Additionally, moviegoers should not be turned away if they have not seen the original Broadway musical. Even if you have not seen the Broadway production, you can prepare by listening to the score composed by Stephen Schwartz. The score features original cast members Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowith, who make a whimsical cameo appearance together in the film.
The long run time might also be intimidating to fans, as the nearly three-hour film is roughly the same amount of time as the entire original broadway musical. Even though it is long, it is definitely still worth going to see. Just be sure to purchase your snacks before sitting down.
Overall, I absolutely loved this movie, and I thought that Grande and Erivo did an amazing job portraying their characters. All of the actors performed the music live while acting, which makes this film stand out against other musical adaptations.
Unfortunately, the movie ends where intermission occurs in the stage production, with the heart-stopping song, “Defying Gravity,” leaving audiences with a cliff-hanger. The fate of the friends of Oz will be revealed when part “Wicked: Part Two” is released in November 2025.