This review will be spoiler-free.
After 21 years since its Broadway debut, Wicked has gotten the movie musical treatment.
As someone who hasn’t seen the Broadway show, I didn’t know anything going in except for the songs “Defying Gravity” and “Popular.” I was slightly worried about this film because in the past couple of years, movie musicals have declined in quality, with a few exceptions. Wicked is absolutely not one of those films, bringing back the spectacle and enjoyment that classic movie musicals have.
Director Jon. M Chu has truly brought out the liveliness and pure magic of the cast involved in the film. His directing with the musical numbers is what he succeeds best at. I mean, this is the man who directed Step Up 2 (AKA one of the best dance movies of all time), so I guess I shouldn’t have been worried when he was put on as director. I really appreciate the spacing of each musical moment and how it’s not a bunch of songs back-to-back. It allows the dialogue to breathe and brings the songs in when they are important.
When going back to the action at the climax of the film, I thought it was a bit lackluster at first glance. After some realization, this finale is beautiful. It’s difficult to talk about without spoiling, but there are moments where the emotional beats take over and hit like a toronto: Elphaba’s determination to fight for what she believes in, the rightful treatment of others who are discriminated against, and seeing the truth that someone who might seem wicked from the outside is not on the inside.
One thing that is honestly a nitpick is some of the natural lighting. The brightness makes looking at the actors’ faces a little difficult, specifically during parts in the “Dancing Through Life” musical number. But maybe it was just a stylistic choice to give a more silhouette visual.
This film’s biggest golden choice that leaves me obsessed is of course the performances of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. They are truly the heart of this film. Watching them in interviews and seeing the support and love they have for one another translates beautifully on screen. Their portrayal of the friendship between the two main characters feels extremely authentic and natural. The star power of these two is undeniable and astronomical.
Erivo is truly taking home best actress at next year’s Oscars with her portrayal as Elphaba. She commands every scene that she’s in and brings in tears with her emotional moments. I know a lot of people were questioning the choice of Ariana Grande in this film, but I had a feeling that she was going to be great due to her love for the Broadway show. She is incredibly hilarious and hits every comedic beat. When both of them come together, you feel the sisterhood they bring to Elphaba and Glinda.
If you were worried about another villain redemption story, don’t be. Wicked: Part One takes this type of story and goes deeper with it. This is a story about discrimination of others for being different based on how you appear and how to find acceptance within yourself. Elphaba’s green skin is a way of showing racism and displaying her as a marginalized character. It discusses the topic of dehumanization, prejudice, inequality, privilege, and animal rights, which are still relevant to today in the real world.
When Elphaba first arrives at Shiz University and is judged for the color of her skin, Glinda offers to help her appear normal to others, which seems like a nod to the “white savior” trope used in media. Moments like this and others do an incredible job at showcasing real life experiences that happen to marginalized groups of people.
Again, watching this without knowing anything about the story really shocked me how important this film is with its impactful themes.
As I close out this review, I want to give you my top three favorite musical numbers:
- Dancing Through Life
- Popular
- The Wizard and I
After watching, I think Wicked: Part One will go down as one of the best movie musicals in cinema history. It’s truly, wickedly beautiful.
