The enduring success of Wicked, first as a 1995 novel (by Gregory Maguire), then as a stage musical beginning in 2003, is perhaps attributed to how simplistically it expands on one of the most popular properties of the last hundred years. It takes a memorable element from The Wizard of Oz, maybe the most beloved movie ever made, and builds upon it in a very safe way. It uses the land of Oz and throws in the oft-used concepts of loneliness, friendship and betrayal to tell an origin story that turns the villain into a misunderstood victim. The story hits every expected beat in showing how the good witch and the wicked witch earned those titles.
I am sure I’ll get roasted for this but, based solely on this version (I have not seen the play), the songs are generally pleasant, if totally unremarkable. The movie is well-made, yet unimaginative. It is a basic family-friendly spectacular in time for the holidays. The direction by Jon M. Chu comes alive in the musical sequences. He does a good job staging them in a cinematic way. There is a creativity to them that is far more magical than the overall story. It never quite pops and, at 150 minutes (minus the end credits) really feels its length, which is a bit concerning considering that this is only the first half (Part 2 is currently scheduled for exactly one year from now). Though it may give devotees what they want, it doesn’t give much more than that.
Elphaba is an outcast from the moment of her birth, due to her green skin. When her magical abilities are inadvertently revealed while delivering her sister to prestigious Shiz University, she finds herself unexpectedly enrolled. That leads her into the orbit of reluctant roommate Galinda and starts a quest for Elphaba to meet the godlike Wizard of Oz and change the world.
The production itself is not particularly impressive. The sets look kind of like sets, which sort of works for the old-school Wizard of Oz-meets-Broadway vibe. However, way too much of the design reminded me of Harry Potter, especially the school/classrooms. There was nothing transportive. I never got swept away into forgetting I was watching actors on a screen. The connection to the material just wasn’t there, leaving only the filmmaking and lead performance to possibly make an impact.
In a way, they both do. For starters, Chu has a way with the music scenes. He is adept at using the whole frame, extras, sets and all. There seems to be something going on everywhere. It is nice to look at, allowing Wicked to have genuine energy during those sequences. The choreography is uncomplicated, but comes off as strangely natural in this odd world. Chu gives ample space in these moments for his stars to shine. Everyone is better during the songs then in the dialogue scenes because the story can’t sustain much interest when it becomes the focus.
The single exception is Cynthia Erivo, who gives an excellent performance throughout. It is too bad the rest of the movie can’t match her or this could have been star-making. She plays Elphaba as a good-natured, wounded woman, with no control over what people hate about her. Deep down, she wants to be liked, but puts on a hard shell as protection. She is instantly likable and very relatable. She brings an emotional truth to a shallow screenplay. Conversely, Ariana Grande is pretty irritating as Galinda, though I am unsure if that is the character or the actor. The only thing Erivo couldn’t make me believe is that Elphaba truly cared for her vapid, narcissistic, friend.
Wicked is the textbook definition of a safe adaptation of a valuable property designed to lure as many paying customers to the theater as possible and offend none of them. While there are certainly positives, everything just felt so empty. That makes it drag even during its better stretches.
2¾ out of 5
Cast:
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
Ariana Grande-Butera as Galinda
Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero
Ethan Slater as Boq
Marissa Bode as Nessarose
Jeff Goldblum as Wizard of Oz
Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Screenplay by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox
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