Jon M. Chu’s big-screen adaptation of the beloved stage musical “Wicked” hit theaters Nov. 22, and is larger than life. Audiences return to the merry old land of Oz to discover how the Witch of the West, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) became wicked. The story begins at Shiz University, where Elphaba, a social outcast, is made to room with the popular girl, Glinda (Ariana Grande). On a wild and fun journey filled with magical antics, a love triangle and an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship forks at a moral crossroads. While “Wicked” is let down by being the first part of a duology, the world, characters and set pieces are so vastly entertaining that the movie is mostly able to surpass this issue.
Since “Wicked” only covers the first act of the musical, its primary character, Elphaba, suffers. Most of Elphaba’s character development comes in the second act, so she isn’t an active character in the film even though it is her movie. Yes, she wants to meet the Wizard of Oz, but she doesn’t take any action to make it happen. The only reason she ends up reaching this goal is because Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) decides it’s time for her to meet him. Likewise, she is simultaneously afraid of her powers but doesn’t use the resources at Shiz University to learn to control them — instead, she just complains about it. Even her iconic look, including her black hat and robe, was thrust upon her by Glinda. Elphaba’s lack of self-actualization and motivation to change anything in her life makes her the least interesting character in her own story.
Another way the “part one” problem affects this movie is the pacing. The film is 90% high school shenanigans where no plot line or character moment is paid off because that doesn’t happen until act two. While every moment of these hijinks is a joy to watch, the film feels as if it’s meandering until it gets to the Emerald City in its final 20 minutes, where the resemblance of plot and character conflict starts to kick in. However, while the story is dull at best if not absent entirely, “Wicked” is filled with so much on-screen magic that it will have the viewers completely spellbound.
Even though “Wicked” is a musical with a budget of only $145 million, its scope and size are better than most blockbusters with double the financial backing. The Land of Oz has never had this much spectacle. The Emerald City is a green and gold steampunk metropolis with exposed gears and towering skyscrapers. The set design of Shiz University pays homage to old Hollywood musicals such as “Top Hat” while imbuing it with whimsy only found in this magical world. Every single set piece is dynamic and perfectly accommodates the film’s massive ensemble numbers.
Musical set pieces this engaging have not been seen since 2016’s “La La Land.” The halls and courtyards of Shiz University are largely practical and provide a grounded sense of geography to the choreography. The “Dancing Through Life” number in particular is an absolute tour de force as it has characters swinging on gyrosphere bookshelves, flipping off of tables and using novels to slide across the floor.
This immaculate sense and use of space is only heightened by the fact that Chu knows how to shoot these sequences. He moves the camera through the sets in inspired ways with minute-long takes to make viewers feel like they are right in the middle of the action. His direction also beautifully complements the scenery when he pulls back for a wide shot to show a massive ensemble of all 50-plus extras filling the stage. The combination of astounding set design and vibrant camera work make every musical number a moment to behold.
On top of the talented work behind the camera that makes Oz come to life, there isn’t really a weak link in the cast. Jeff Goldblum perfectly jumps from being the charming Wizard to the devious trickster audiences expect the character to be. The Oscar-winning Yeoh’s performance was expectedly masterful; she commands the screen when playing both sides of Morrible. Peter Dinklage delivers an understated yet powerful performance through his voice alone as the goat professor, Dr. Dillamond, that will have some audience members in tears. All that said, the standout of this unbelievably stacked cast has to be Grande as Glinda.
Whether she merely plays herself or actually has hidden chops for acting is up for debate, but regardless, Grande was born to play this role. Every exaggerated flip of her hair or flirtatious manipulation oozes so naturally into her performance. Glinda is incredibly self-absorbed, so much so that it goes far beyond being irritating to being the exact reason she is so likable. Grande does a lot more than play the out-of-touch popular girl, however, for there are a plethora of dramatic moments that she carries with brilliant subtlety. From her fake smile after her realization the Wicked Witch was killed by Dorothy at the start of the film to the pain in her eyes when she realizes she and Elphaba must part ways, Grande shines in these heartbreaking character moments as well as in her quirky schoolgirl persona.
In the end, while being the first act in a duology holds “Wicked” back, it is an enthralling first act that will make everyone fall in love with the world, the characters and the musical genre. I rate it a 4/5.
—
Featured Image via Universal Pictures
