Studio: Universal Pictures
Dir: Jon M. Chu
Written by Robbie Fleming
After hearing all the buzz around the film and its appearance on several "Films of the Year" lists, I thought I’d check out Wicked to form my own honest opinion. I’m not familiar with the stage musical, but I’ve seen The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013), so I know all about the land of Oz. My only real selling point was Ariana Grande—one of my favorite pop stars—being in the film, so I mainly watched it for her involvement. After finally seeing what’s been one of the biggest films of the year, here are my thoughts on Wicked.
The land of Oz is brought to life beautifully through a strong mix of practical sets and CGI, which help make the film feel less artificial compared to others that rely heavily on CGI and green screens. The costumes and hair/makeup are standout features, as they bring this world to life alongside the characters we see in the film. The creative side of this production definitely helped make it stand out.
However, one of the letdowns was Alice Brooks’ cinematography, which made the visual style look reminiscent of an MCU film. Sure, there are some standout shots, but many of the visuals and camera movements felt too standard and could have been more creative to enhance the production design.
I think the film serves as a strong backstory for the Wicked Witch of the West, especially when compared to Oz: The Great and Powerful. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between her and Glinda, as well as the several nods to the original story. I also liked the way the plot flowed, the characters introduced throughout, and how it ended on a good note that felt like both a satisfying conclusion and a cliffhanger.
However, my only gripe is how they made Elphaba a more sympathetic villain, showing how she’s treated differently because she’s green. While it makes her relatable to anyone who feels different, the trope of giving a well-known villain a sympathetic backstory is becoming a bit overdone.
Cynthia Erivo gives a brilliant performance as Elphaba, delivering a strong portrayal that showcases her talents as both an actress and a singer. She feels like a perfect fit for the character and brings a fresh take on this iconic role. I also want to praise Jonathan Bailey, Peter Dinklage, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh for their great performances.
However, Ariana Grande was my favorite performance in this film and one of my favorite performances of the year. Even though Grande isn’t widely known for her acting, she steals the show every time she’s on screen, delivering an impressive performance that feels genuine and full of effort. I hope to see Grande earn nominations during the awards season.
Jon M. Chu has always been a hit-or-miss director for me. I liked his work on Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, but I wasn’t a fan of his sequel to Now You See Me. However, I think Wicked surpasses the rest of his filmography, allowing him to showcase his talents in bringing the land of Oz to life. I think he’s a great choice for projects like this and demonstrated strong filmmaking skills here.
This was the first time I’d heard the songs properly from the musical, and honestly, some of them were quite catchy. Since I’ve only gotten into musicals in recent years, I’m still a bit skeptical about them. However, I found myself enjoying several of the songs, and they worked well alongside the plot.
Overall, Wicked shines as a grand spectacle thanks to Chu’s directing, the performances, the story, production design, costumes, hair/makeup, and musical numbers. While the visual style and characterization could use some improvement, the story, theatrical elements, acting, and singing are more than enough to make this film entertaining and fun to watch. For what it is, I’m giving it a rating of 9/10 and 4.5 out of 5 stars, despite its flaws.
If you're a fan of musicals or the Oz series, I highly recommend it!
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