Long Beach – Wicked on Broadway opened its doors back on October 30th, 2003. The Broadway show was based loosely on the 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire. The Broadway show was a massive hit and quickly grew a cult following. A film adaptation was not too unlikely, but after the massive success of 2012 “Le Miserables,” a wicked film adaptation was shortly announced.
However, the film would be delayed multiple times, one reason being the COVID 19 pandemic. Production began shortly after, and Jon M. Chu was hired to direct the film. In 2021, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were revealed as the film adaptations of Elphaba and Glinda.
It was quickly realized early in production that it would be best to split the film in half to avoid cutting plot points and expanding the characters’ journeys. “Wicked: Part One” was released in theaters on November 22, 2024, and its second half is scheduled to be released on November 21, 2025, titled “Wicked: For Good”.
The film has received positive reviews from critics and audiences and was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the American Film Institute.
“Wicked: Part One” tells the origin of what led the film’s main character, Elphaba, to become known as the Wicked Witch of the West. The film also has a big focus on the relationship between her and Glinda and the unjust treatment of the animals in Oz.
Cynthia Erivo gives an extraordinary performance as Elphaba Thropp, with amazing vocals and powerful and compelling acting that truly makes her character come to life on screen.
Ariana Grande also gives a stellar performance as Glinda Upland and drives the comedic aspect of the film. Grande also showcases her vocals in a new way that many of her fans might not be familiar with. Grande is best known for her work in pop music, so her being casted in a musical theater type role was a major concern when it was announced. She stated in interviews that when she got word that “Wicked” would be adapted to the big screen, she immediately started to train her voice and take vocal lessons. After watching the film, I can safely say that she proved that she was more than capable of doing it.
The film moves pretty quickly in its pacing for being almost 3 hours long. However, a few scenes drag on for quite a bit. For example, I felt like the final number, “Defying Gravity” had a lot of unnecessary pauses, and even Jonathan Bailey couldn’t help “Dancing Through Life” from feeling like it went on for 30 minutes.
Cinematography-wise, the film looks absolutely stunning and very colorful. Alice Brooks (the cinematographer for the film) did a phenomenal job and really gave the film life. The set pieces were also done very well, and the costumes were absolutely gorgeous. I also really enjoyed the choreography for the musical numbers, specifically “What is this Feeling?” and “One Short Day.”
Speaking of the music, the songs were done very well. I felt that Cintha Erivo really shined the most when it came to the songs. She brought so much character and emotion to the music and really kept you engaged in these numbers.
Other than a few pacing issues, I don’t really have anything bad to say. Except that “A Sentimental Man” is undoubtedly the worst song in the film (and Broadway show).
I also understand that cutting the film in half was necessary to avoid cutting plot points. It does suck that I have to wait a whole year until I’m able to listen to this cast’s versions of the songs for act two. Also, most notably, the second act on stage is under an hour, so I can’t wait to see what new things they’re going to add.
In my opinion, I think “Wicked” is a solid 9.5 out of 10 and will undoubtedly become a classic in future years to come.
