This review contains spoliers
As a lover (and defender) of movie musicals, I was eager to grab tickets and park myself in a cinema chair when I heard that the stage musical “Wicked” was being transformed into a live-action movie. That enthusiasm, however, was short-lived due to some disappointing -to say the least- movie musicals that were converted from stage musicals I’ve seen since then *cough cough “Mean Girls” and “Cats” cough cough*. However, to my delight, Wicked is an unadulterated credit to Jon M. Chu (the director of Wicked) and ALL the cast and other creatives.
Introduction to Wicked
In case you’re unaware of the storyline of Wicked, the story takes place in the universe of “The Wizard of Oz” before Dorothy skips down the yellow brick road and tells the audience how the dynamics of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo), and Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande) came about. It’s the story we all know. However, you’ll be looking at it from a different perspective by the time you finish the film, and here’s the kicker- it’s only half of the story!
Review
One factor that makes this film a triumph is that it didn’t try to hide the fact that the story clearly has themes of racism and general fascism, more specifically colourism, since Elphaba faces very blatant discrimination against her for the colour of her skin (green), and the prejudice of the animals disgusted as “doing it for the better”, for fear of the movie being labelled as “too political.” “Wicked” stands loud and proud of the anti-discrimination and justice it stands for..
Moreover, I also thought it was interesting how the only two credited characters in the film who experience discrimination are played by actors who are part of a minority group that also experience discrimination (Erivo being a person of colour and Dinklage having dwarfism); I’m not sure if that was a coincidence or not, but I think it was a clever “nod” to the central theme of the film regardless and highlights the importance of representation.
Like in the movie version of Les Miserables (2012), the singing is performed entirely live rather than in a studio. I LOVE it when movie musicals do this. Sometimes, when singing is performed in a studio and then dubbed into a movie, it cuts the level of acting- the dialogue is performed intensely and expressively. Then it breaks into song, and you are met with a dictated and polished voice, leaving it feeling out of place and clumsy. However, by singing live, Wicked can carry on the level of acting, as it blends into a song so seamlessly, which it does perfectly with all its breathing sounds and borderline voice breaks. It feels so sophisticated, and, more importantly, it fits.
Also, a shoutout to Cynthia Erivo in “Defying Gravity” is most certainly due (and her voice in general). Being a West-End and Broadway legend, theatregoers already know she has a powerhouse of a voice; however, as suspected, it’s Defying Gravity where her voice takes centre-stage. The film finishes with the song, and the storyline builds suspension and tension for that particular moment when Elphaba becomes empowered amongst the chaos she’s facing, both with her current situation and the discrimination and injustice she faces. So, at the end of the verse, every word felt heavy. The weight of Erivo’s performance echoes the emotions that Elphaba was feeling- the juxtaposition between the struggles she had faced and, now, the triumph of her having the strength to react to the injustice differently than before.
The film was also marvellously cast. In particular, Jeff Goldblum delivered a standout performance as “The Wizard.” I always found Goldblum to have a very trusting presence, making the character seem reliable and sincere. His likeability amplified the twist, making the revelation appear much more shocking and memorable. Michelle Yeoh plays “Madame Morrible.” Although the name gives away the outcome of her character (clever!), so not quite as shocking, she gives an incredible performance. Played as stern, authoritarian and somewhat aloof- you are instinicity untrusting of her.
And, of course, I could not provide a review of Wicked without mentioning Ariana Grande. I was a little suspicious when I heard that Grande was playing Glinda. Since she is a significant pop star, some thought it would be more Grande playing Grande as Glinda instead of just Grande playing Glinda (if that makes any sense!). After watching it, however, I found out that she was asked to sing “Popular” in a hip-hop style, but surprisingly, Grande denied that request for that very reason! She IS Glinda. Effortlessly.
Erviros and Grande’s chemistry fits together harmoniously. Although they often clash in style and approach, the tension they create allows them to bounce off each other undoubtedly well. In addition, Elphaba’s clever and razor-sharp wit and Glinda’s desperate lack thereof are comedically charming. I felt they almost impressed each other with their social abilities, albeit for different reasons.
However, if I were feeling very, very harsh, my only slight criticism of the film would be the colour scheme and lighting. When I heard about “Wicked” being transformed into a live-action movie, I envisioned the film to have a dark and eery visual theme and tone, like the stage musical set. However, I was met with an oversaturated and vibrant colour grading. But the film’s cinematography transcended whatever disappointment I had about it not staying authentic to the stage musical. “Wicked” by no means looked terrible; in fact, it was a visual treat. I was confused when I first learned that the film’s length was longer than the whole stage musical (considering that this is only Act/part 1), but now it’s obvious why. The director’s choice to divide it into two parts meant he could do the visuals justice without being limited to just three hours for the complete storyline. Every shot was carefully orchestrated and must have been attentively made, which results in a stunning cinematic appeal.
I could honestly go on and on about how much of a success (in my eyes) the film is, and unsurprisingly, it has some glowing reviews. Given how much love fans have in their hearts for Wicked, it very easily could have been a major disaster, but clearly, the utmost care the cast and creatives took with the film tremendously paid off. All I have left to say is- I spy an (or maybe even multiple) Oscar Awards in the film’s future!
Wicked (Part 1) is out now in Cinemas.
If you would like to more reviews by me, click here
For the Wicked stage musical (West End and UK tour) click here
As always, have a lovely day! x
