Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Based on the famous Broadway play, “Wicked Part One” has arrived on the big screen! We are back in the land of Oz, where a misunderstood young woman named Elphaba is struggling to find her way. She meets Glinda, a popular and self-centered girl who she quickly clashes with. Over time, they find friendship through their experiences at college, as Elphaba finally feels like she might be accepted for having green skin. Elphaba then receives a letter from the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, intent on solving her greatest struggles. But after the visit goes in a different direction, Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship is put to the test as their futures may never be the same.
Positives:
As someone who isn’t the biggest musical fan, I’ll admit “Wicked Part One” took me by surprise. The film is surprisingly awesome, taking old and new fans of the story on a journey unlike any other. The music was excellent, featuring most of the play’s most famous songs. I could feel the energy and wonder throughout my theater as audiences grooved to the catchy tunes. I’ll even admit that I felt the desire to tap my feet and engage with the music. Popular and Defying Gravity in particular stood out as crowd favorites on the soundtrack. The film felt large enough for the occasion, putting together some incredible dance sequences combined with the famous hits. Credit to the cast for portraying these sequences with such enthusiasm. Another surprise for me was how well the leads handled the material. I knew Cynthia Erivo would give a satisfying performance as Elphaba but I had no idea Ariana Grande had the chops to pull off the role of Glinda. Both command the screen with such poise, owning these roles and giving fans a memorable portrayal. Jonathan Bailey also gives a charismatic performance as Fiyero, the love interest that draws the attention of both Elphaba and Glinda. His dance sequence in the library was a stand out.
The production design is also noteworthy. Director Jon M. Chu has paid close attention to the theatricality of the play while making sure it translates to film. It’s a nice blend of both, which will make theater and movie fans happy. The world of Oz is immersive, being as colorful and whimsical as the original film. It feels like audiences are being transported to a different place, so credit to the creative team for producing such an engrossing experience. The costume design is also top notch. Seeing Erivo and Grande dawn the costumes of the famous witches was satisfying even for someone who isn’t as familiar with the play. The world building here is outstanding! I also enjoyed the character dynamic between Elphaba and Glinda. What could have been a style over substance situation is avoided by making sure audiences care about Elphaba’s struggles while enjoying Glinda’s addition to her story. They have great chemistry, featuring some hilarious moments between the two. Without their chemistry the story wouldn’t have been as strong. As an entire experience, “Wicked Part One” exceeded my expectations!
Negatives:
I don’t have much to naysay about this one. But the elephant in the room would be the runtime. I will give audiences a disclaimer that the film is only the first half of the broadway show, ending at the exact point in which an intermission takes place. This means that the runtime of the film is padded to make a feature length film. At nearly two hours and forty minutes, “Part One” will likely have audiences ready to head home by its conclusion. At the same time, I’m sure they’ll be eager to experience “Part Two”. There is also a glossy look to the film that some audiences might notice. Being that the land of Oz has always been tacky and over the top, I don’t see this as a big issue. Just something for audiences to know. There is also an animal rights subplot meant to mirror prejudice amongst marginalized groups. While I believe it works well for the story, an approach that flowed better might have been more effective for the film. It’s not what I would call preachy by any means, but it’s certainly not subtle.
Conclusion:
“Wicked Part One” is a surprisingly wonderful broadway adaptation. It won me over as someone who isn’t the biggest fan of musicals. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande give standout performances as Elphaba and Glinda. The production design is also excellent, featuring award worthy presentations of the costumes, set pieces, and world building. Although a bloated runtime might draw the story out too long, the film passes by pretty quickly. This is unquestionably a big screen experience to be seen with a crowd. The music will have everyone wanting to sing along, so enjoy the ride!
