'Wicked' Review: Long-Awaited Adaptation Defies Expectations
If you grew up in NYC, you know how inescapable Wicked has been since it debuted in New York in 2003. Like Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, and The Lion King, it became a Broadway staple that defined the city. As someone vaguely familiar with the play – just knowing “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and the significance of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel – I assumed it would be too lofty for the big screen. Right when I underestimated Jon M. Chu after he did fantastic work with In The Heights, he… defies expectations and offers a solid adaptation well worth the wait.
Image copyright (©) Courtesy of Universal Pictures
PG: Scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.
Runtime: 2 Hrs and 40 Minutes
Production Companies: Universal Pictures, Marc Platt Productions
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Director: Jon M. Chu
Writers: Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox
Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande-Butera, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum
Release Date: November 22, 2024
Within the land of Oz, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a green-skinned young woman, attends Shiz University where she fails to fit in due to the color of her skin. Nevertheless, she displays unfathomable power, which interests the esteemed dean Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), who takes her under her wing. She’s forced to room with Galinda (Ariana Grande), a self-serving privileged preppy popular woman. When their worlds collide, their relationship blossoms from loathsome rivals to close friends… until Elphaba is invited to the Emerald City by the Wonderful Wizard of Oz and a revelation tests their friendship.
Wicked Shows How A Studio Blockbuster Movie Should Be Done
Most stage-to-film adaptations lately, specifically from Universal (Dear Evan Hansen and *shudders* Cats), failed to translate the gravitas and magic from the stage to the silver screen. This is largely due to their directors' lack of experience with musical theater. Jon M. Chu and In The Heights DP Alice Brooks have proven to understand that realm, so as they traverse the yellow brick road together again, their expertise works wonders on a larger scale. They present Stephen Schwartz's iconic songs in a dizzying spectacle during several boisterous musical numbers, many that involve a large ensemble, such as “What Is This Feeling” and “One Fine Day,” which are some of the strongest of the film offers thanks to Brooks' sweeping camerawork and Christopher Scott's (Step Up Revolution, Step Up: All In) choreography. The energetic dance sequences in Wicked are reminiscent of Chu's Step Up roots, with the same infectious energy and visual language.
From a production standpoint, Wicked is an excellent example of how a musical adaptation should be done. Despite being unfamiliar with the phenomenon, I feel the passion worn on its sleeve. Nathan Crowley's (Wonka) elaborate production design and the detailed and colorful set decor whisk you away to Oz. Paul Tazewell's costume design adds a grandiose personality to these distinct characters. These practical sets are refreshing to bask in, especially after watching a hollow CG-landscaped film like Red One – which somehow had a higher budget than Wicked. The intense collaboration among all production departments, bringing this fantasy realm to screen, resulted in a magical atmosphere largely absent from studio musical blockbusters for a long time.
A Spellbinding Duo
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande put the body in “they embody Elphaba and Glinda,” and “they body their respective roles.” Erivo, who I thought was a questionable casting choice, quickly dispels any skepticism with how thoughtfully poignant she performs as Elphaba. She conveys this character's pain, hopefulness, and despairing repression of self with subtle, but moving emotion. She portrays Elphaba as a misunderstood person looking for a connection and to be seen. The film goes to great lengths to depict how much everyone around her sucks, including her mean-spirited father (Adam James) and paraplegic sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode). Never does the writing nor Erivo's acting choices feel manipulative in having you empathize with her intense emotions. Erivo's singing is great, as usual, but when she hits those high notes and the movie's cinematic style makes you feel for Elphaba, she’s a feat to behold.
Ariana Grande has consistently foreshadowed this moment throughout her career, from performing a rendition of “Popular” with Mika to singing “What Is This Feeling?” with Seth MacFarlane in Carpool Karaoke. Hell, she appeared on Chenoweth and Menzel's respective albums. Her theater kid self was doing her work in the backend. To say she was born to play Glinda is an understatement. She consistently steals the spotlight every time she appears onscreen.
Erivo and Grande's onscreen chemistry propels Wicked to remarkable heights. You feel the weight of their relationship grow, and in a manner that’s always earned. The film bites off more objectives than it can handle at times, even for a lengthy 160-minute runtime, but Chu and Co. maintain the importance of Elphaba and Glinda's friendship. By the time the film reaches “Defying Gravity,” the weight of their falling out is devastating.
Experiencing Wicked's True Colors For the First Time
The entire Wicked musical is based on Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which tackled racism and propaganda. While writing the stage adaptation, Winnie Holzman didn’t sacrifice those timely themes, and she and co-writer Dana Fox treated the film’s screenplay the same way. The film delivers its racial allegory through Elphaba forging a bond with Dr. Dillamond (Peter Dinklage), a history professor at Shiz who’s discriminated against for being a talking goat. Its direct approach is a great way to introduce and educate the themes of prejudice to younger audiences. Granted, it’s pushed to the wayside to draw more attention to Elphaba and Glinda's relationship, but the discussion is brought about again in a hefty manner. I just hope Part Two stays true to the anti-fascist conversations since Hollywood is already proving to move towards a McCarthyist direction (Cc: Disney shelving a Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur episode because of a trans character and actors being silenced for speaking out against Trump post-election).
Colors Are Limited
I wish I could say how colorful Wicked is and compliment it for its visuals. The film's color grading isn't the issue per se, but it looks overexposed. Usually, there's one light source beaming from a window that diffuses much of what's happening in the background, either characters exchanging dialogue or dancers performing Scott's choreography. It’s a major distraction plaguing much of the film’s first half and its musical numbers, including the dashing Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero's showstopping “Dancing Through Life.” It’s not until the midpoint that the film's visuals deliver the awe-inspiring spectacle that was frequently absent in the initial half. Even part of the film's climax conforms to the dull, muted style that plagues every modern blockbuster.
Final Thoughts
Jon M. Chu's Wicked – or “they were r-ooooooaaaaaahhhhhooooo-mates” – is a solid adaptation, bolstered by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s spellbinding chemistry and immaculate production quality. Despite the shortcomings of its filmmaking, this adaptation exudes a profound, magical spirit and should be witnessed on the largest screen possible.
Rating: 3.5/5
