This theatergoer settled into a seat to watch the highly anticipated Wicked: Part 1 with a mix of anticipation and tension. After all, this was a movie adaptation of a beloved musical, a genre that generally tends to have successes few and far in-between. Although this movie was headlined by major musical and theatrical stars including The Color Purple’s Cynthia Erivo and pop princess Ariana Grande, I still shifted slightly in my seat, preparing to drown myself in popcorn.
Yet Wicked, true to its name, defied gravity and my expectations. Opening with a gorgeous, maximalist number led by the ethereal voice of Grande, Wicked starts with a bang and glides weightlessly through its almost 3-hour runtime. With its lush sets, stunning lead performances, and well-executed musical numbers, Wicked offers a thoughtful revisionist history of the original Wizard of Oz. Erivo, in particular, is wonderful as Elphaba (the so-called Wicked Witch), anchoring the movie’s core with her powerful voice. Meanwhile, Grande expertly plays off Erivo as the ditzy, privileged Galinda (later Glinda, future Good Witch of the North). Other standout performances include those of Jonathan Bailey’s Prince Fiyero, whose number “Dancing Through Life” is a mid-movie highlight.
The movie’s storyline, with its emotional and political beats, also holds true throughout its run. Elphaba is a sympathetic character, bearing silent pain and judgment for the way she was born. It is fitting that her character pulls her magic from years of repressed anger. Her relationship with Galinda is at the center of the story, a close bond that develops and supports the both of them despite their drastic differences. In addition, its political subtext stands out clearly in this adaptation: as more injustice is committed in Oz against minority groups, many, like Galinda, choose silence and comfort as opposed to confronting the uncomfortable truth. Yet Elphaba, already ostracized and at risk of being vilified, chooses to reach out in support of them. When she proudly belts, “Defying Gravity” in full control of her powers, it made me want to stand up and cheer her on.
Of course, the movie has its flaws. Like any adaptation, some aspects don’t translate from musical to movie as easily. At times, the sets can get dizzying in their scale, feeling like a CGI overwhelm, and some musical numbers aren’t executed as well as they could be. It should also be considered that this is only Part 1 of the full musical, and one wonders how Part 2 will be paced. That volume too, will probably have its own issues.
But who cares about a few flaws when the display is so delightful? This movie made my inner theater kid sing, and it’s a wonderful watch with friends, giggling and whispering through each number. So – if you’re thinking about buying tickets, go ahead! Believe the hype because Wicked holds up despite criticism. It is as true now as it was in 2012 on Broadway.
