I am not what you would consider a casual fan of WICKED. I have been obsessed with this show since I was fifteen years old, risking my life on a bus from Chinatown in Richmond to New York City to see the show for the first time with the original cast. Since then, I have seen the stage version at least five more times, including productions in London so I could see the difference. I say all of this of course to brag… but more importantly emphasize that because WICKED is so important to me and I have been waiting over 20 years for this film, I was fully prepared to be its harshest critic. But I am not being hyperbolic when I say WICKED: PART I is better than anything I could have hoped for and the cinematic event of the year; it is a top-tier musical adaptation and easily my favorite movie of 2024.
While I initially scoffed at the film being split in two parts, I now understand that decision completely. The almost 3 hour runtime feels like a brisk 30 minutes; so much so, I have no idea what could have been cut to cram this all into one film. Director Jon M. Chu would have been doing such a disservice to the story and certainly would have had to cut songs in order to make it one film. The scary part is many of my favorite moments (and the most action-packed elements) are going to be in WICKED PART II, so we have a lot to look forward to next year.
For those that aren’t familiar, WICKED features the “untold” story of how the green-skinned Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) becomes the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda (Ariana Grande-Butera) becomes the Good Witch of the North. The two witches meet in school at Shiz University and many of their classmates, like love interest Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), may be characters you later recognize from THE WIZARD OF OZ. After all, what starts as a prequel also bleeds into the events that include Dorothy and her friends. At first, the two witches, who come from very different walks of life, don’t get along. But after some (forced) bonding, they begin to be friendly and work together on navigating their magical lessons, which may just lead them to meeting the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).
Some criticize “fan service” in movies and TV shows; I am not one of those people. I love that the film knows it has a lot riding on it and really leans into beloved, fan-favorite elements from the stage show—even some small, blink and you miss them moments. Some of my favorite references were in the colorful set designs and costumes, as well as the screen writers keeping in the famous Galinda line, “It’s good to see me, isn’t it?” Yes it is.
I am the first to admit that while I am a fan of Ariana Grande’s music, I was not understanding the vision when she was announced as Galinda. I knew she could act and I knew she could sing, but could she really capture Galinda in all of her pink, popular pomp? Well, the answer is a resounding YES! Grande is the clear standout in the film and in many of the songs, dare I say she may have :ahem: sounded : cough: as good as the original version? I am a sucker for when singers belt and opt up in songs, and Grande shows her incredible range over and over again, from “No One Mourns The Wicked” to “Defying Gravity”. But even more than the singing, Grande acts her wand off, seeming to truly understand the core of Galinda and her character arc, from the humor, narcissism, and aloofness to the thoughtfulness and understanding.
And of course I cannot (and will not) forget Cynthia Erivo. Erivo has wowed me since I first saw her on-stage in THE COLOR PURPLE. Her powerhouse “I’m Here” is the first time time I ever saw an actor get a mid-show standing ovation. So while I knew she was going to bring it as Elphaba, it was truly amazing to see her don the green and prove what a dynamic acting and vocal master she is. More than any other Elphaba I have seen, Erivo hones in on the “outsider” element of her character’s existence. Of course that has always been a major theme of the show, but Erivo wears those emotions on her sleeve, making songs like “I’m Not That Girl,” cut that much deeper.
I already have my tickets purchased to see WICKED again… and I imagine the movie theaters may get sick of seeing me. The viewing experience I most recommend is in theaters like the AMC Dolby, which have the best audio. Unfortunately, MOANA 2 will be starting next weekend and taking over the premiere theaters, so make sure you see WICKED on opening weekend to get the best viewing experience. I can assure you won’t regret it.
My Review: A+
