Review: ‘Wicked’ movie soars, questions who gets to be ‘good’ or ‘evil’

Lily Cole

Editor 

After two sold-out theater visits, almost buying four tickets for $47 and finally settling on cuddle seats at Emagine because they were the cheapest, my friends and I saw the highly anticipated “Wicked” movie.

The scene is set in the magical land of Oz. It follows the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the popular and self-absorbed Good Witch, as they navigate political intrigue, personal ambition and the shifting definitions of good and evil.

The film “Wicked” is based on the 2003 Broadway musical, which is, in turn, loosely adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” While the musical draws inspiration from Maguire’s book, it differs in terms of the plot and character arcs. 

It’s important to note that “Wicked” reimagines the classic world of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz” offering a new perspective on the iconic characters and events, focusing on Elphaba and Glinda. The 1939 film, starring Judy Garland, is itself a well-known adaptation of Baum’s original novel.

My sister and I went into this movie ready for a life-changing experience, and my other two friends thought this was an alternate universe version of “The Wizard of Oz.” While they were right, in a way, nothing could have prepared us for the powerhouse performances accompanying the film.

Thinking about the Broadway show I saw in 2022, with Lindsay Pearce as Elphaba and Allie Trimm as Glinda, the movie has differences. The main one is CGI, which one of my friends calls a “CGI mess.” Obviously, a baby lion would never be that tame. But surprisingly, the movie prioritized using real sets rather than CGI. Audiences could definitely see the care and time it took to craft each set piece carefully–especially the giant effigy of Elphaba in “No One Mourns the Wicked.” Production designer Nathan Crowley emphasizes practical effects to create an immersive audience experience. 

The casting for this film was exceptional. Cynthia Erivo always impresses me. I first heard her singing “I’m Here” from The Color Purple on YouTube in my acting class during my sophomore year of high school, and I’ve been obsessed with her rendition of “Alfie” by Dionne Warwick for months. Erivo’s sound is a mixture of blues and musical theater with a belt that will tighten your chest until that last note fades away. I won’t lie and say I didn’t tear up from her acting in the Ozdust Ballroom. She uses the mezzo-soprano role of Elphaba to showcase her softer side in “The Wizard and I” and blow us all away with that final riff in “Defying Gravity.” 

Ariana Grande stole the show for me with her characterization of Glinda. It was a mixture of Kristen Chenoweth and her own Cat Valentine, a character Grande played in the Nickelodeon TV show ‘Victorious’ all wrapped together. She talked quietly but didn’t let that soft, feminine sound overshadow Glinda’s bubbly, egocentric nature. I was pleasantly surprised to hear her operatic notes–while tight-sounding, they still effortlessly drifted through the air and into my soprano heart. 

The film’s theme focuses on gender. The Wizard symbolizes a history of persecuting women to control land and labor, i.e. using Elphaba’s magic for his own gain. I feel this movie has a place in the hearts of many women trying to navigate a world where we all feel “different.”

The movie teaches that we need to make an effort to understand others’ struggles and what makes them tick. Why would someone be “wicked?” This musical gives a soul to a being that most people dislike. It is a beautiful experience, and it intends to teach people never to judge a book by its cover. 

Making it into a movie with stars who know what they’re doing, have been on Broadway, have performed and sung for years and know their stuff makes the experience more enjoyable than just seeing the show in a seat at the Gershwin Theater in New York. 

If you’re looking for a movie for all ages with some laughable one-liners, definitely hold space–just about a little over two and a half hours–for this movie musical.

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