Film Review - Wicked: For Good
Images courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Director Jon M. Chu, alongside his cast and crew, has crafted the most faithful adaptation of a Broadway musical ever to hit the screen with Wicked: For Good.
After defying gravity in the first film, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), branded as the Wicked Witch of the West, continues her fight to expose the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and save Oz’s animal population from persecution. Meanwhile, Galinda (Ariana Grande), marketed to the public as Glinda the Good, believes she is bringing happiness to the people of Oz. The two women reunite as events unfold, and as a result, they will indeed be changed.
All the elements that were loved and adored in Wicked make a return. The world of Oz is still beautifully crafted with the grand production design and costumes always front and centre. The performances of the supporting cast, for the majority, remain solid. Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum continue to feel a little miscast, especially when it comes to their singing. Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater, on the other hand, stand out more compared to the previous film as their characters go through the biggest physical changes.
The musical numbers are still strong, despite not being as impactful as the first film’s songs. The two new original songs for Elphaba and Galinda are serviceable enough for their emotional arcs. The relationship between these two main characters remains the heart of the film, with Erivo and Grande again playing their roles to perfection. Their on and off-screen chemistry is just undeniable. By the time the titular song starts to play, it’s impossible not to feel everything those two characters are feeling. Erivo is incredible at showing the weight that Elphaba’s choices carry, and her voice is still so strong, she practically levitates every time she hits a note. Meanwhile, Grande matches that same energy, and even surpasses it as Galinda’s emotional journey takes more of a centre stage. The film does manage to stick the landing when it comes to the two leads. However, when it comes to everything else, this second act of Wicked is ultimately a bit of a mess.
Rather than matching the big, grand spectacle of the previous film, this film rightfully goes deeper with the plot’s heavy themes of propaganda, disinformation and fascism. It’s great to see, but there’s unfortunately not enough time to see any of them through as the narrative also needs to fulfill its romantic subplots (there would’ve been riots if As Long As You’re Mine wasn’t included) and tie in the story of Dorothy and her friends on the yellow brick road with the culmination of Elphaba and Galinda’s journey. It’s worth pointing out that the overstuffed plot is not the fault of the filmmakers, but is a consequence of the film being too faithful to the stage musical. Elphaba is right, no good deed goes unpunished.
Wicked: For Good is good, not great. But that’s okay - it still manages to hold space for an extremely emotionally satisfying ending.
Wicked: For Good is now screening in cinemas. For tickets and more info, click here.