I have an awkward confession.
I knew almost nothing about Wicked as I wheeled into the movie theater except for the universally known fact that the beloved Broadway musical upon which this film is based is set within the world of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.
I mean, okay, that's a fair amount to know. However, I knew nothing about the storyline, the narrative arc, the actual music (I was genuinely stunned to learn that the song Popular is from the Broadway musical), and I genuinely had no idea of what to expect here.
I know. I know. I should turn in my theater minor.
Wicked, the Broadway musical, is no doubt a cultural phenomenon. This was evidenced quite vividly by the number of moviegoers young and old who were dressed for the experience on the promo night I managed to catch the film in anticipation of its opening and its awards season push.
Wicked comes with high expectations, not just because of its acclaimed history but because of director Jon M. Chu's own acclaimed history with musicals including the criminally under-appreciated In the Heights adaptation that continues to be one of the best movie musicals in recent memory.
A faithful adaptation I've been told, Wicked will most assuredly leave nearly all fans of the Broadway musical enchanted. In case you're unaware, the story has been divided into two films with this film, part one, lasting nearly as long as the entire Broadway musical at 160 minutes. The film tells us the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, first plopping us down in Munchkinland not long after certain events from The Wizard of Oz before an inquisitive Munchkin dares to ask our Glinda (Ariana Grande) "Is is true you were friends with her?"
And then we're off.
The two meet not so cute at Shiz University, Galinda filled with both promise and entitlement while Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is brainy but devastatingly wounded after a lifetime of rejection by her father due to the color of her green skin and her general status as a pariah everywhere she goes. She's theoretically only at Shiz at the behest of her father to keep an eye on her sister, Nessarose (dazzling newcomer Marissa Bode), who is sheltered in her own way as a paraplegic and wheelchair user attempting to forge her own path. Through a series of mishaps of sorts, Galinda and Elphaba end up roommates, the uncomfortable dynamic working its way to where we know it's going to go even if we don't entirely know the storyline.
Wicked soars on the strength of its co-leads, Grande absolutely delighting in both comic timing and vocal prowess even if the world of Shiz never quite lives up to her razzle-dazzle. I found myself completely in awe of Erivo, a mega-talented actress who is a Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award winning actress who also has two Academy Award nominations to her name. She never fails to impress and she's remarkable here in embodying Elphaba with emotional honesty, tenderness, charisma, and absolute presence. If Erivo doesn't snag at least an Academy Award nomination out of this performance, there's simply no justice in the world.
As someone who tends to think Wicked overstayed its welcome, I'd still sit through it all again simply to watch and listen to Erivo.
Kudos to Chu for casting two wheelchair using actresses, young Cesily Collette Taylor as younger Nessarose and the dynamic Marissa Bode, in her feature film debut, as the older Nessarose. It was a wise move to cast authentically here and both Taylor and Bode nail it beautifully.
More of this please.
Oh, and can I get one of those wheelchairs myself?
Wicked features a strong ensemble throughout with Ethan Slater, as Boq, being particularly impressive along with Peter Dinklage's vocal work as Dr. Dillamond and Jonathan Bailey's work as Fiyero also impressing. Michelle Yeoh is perfectly fine as Madame Morrible, however, I couldn't help but be a bit deflated by Jeff Goldblum's Goldblumesque turn as the Wizard and Bowen Yang's entertaining but under-utilized appearance as Pfannee.
There are a couple of expected cameos, of course, though they felt a bit gratuitous and over-utilized. You'll know them when they see them.
If this sounds like I didn't enjoy Wicked, think again. The music captivates, the ensemble is strong, and both Grande and Erivo share a beautiful chemistry and the vocal chops to bring this music to life. While some musical directors hire actors first, Chu clearly embraced the need for true singers to bring these songs to life and it pays off magnificently.
Fans of Wicked need not worry. Chu has remained faithful to the Broadway musical while adding new dimensions and depth, at least emotionally if not narratively, to the characters and their stories. The end result may not, at least for me, be a movie musical classic like In the Heights but it's still one of the most entertaining films of the year and one destined to add serious life to the holiday boxoffice.
Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
