“Wicked” Review: A Magical Musical Epic That Defies Expectations

Regardless of your age, you’ve probably heard of the “Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Be it the original novel, the 1930’s film, or any recent interpretation of this modern fairytale classic, the cultural phenomenon has surely made a massive impact on the entertainment landscape. If you are a big fan of musicals, then you’ve definitely heard of its prequel or origin story, “Wicked.” It is a groundbreaking theatrical show that broke multiple records, scored numerous awards, and won incalculable numbers of fans around the world. It is a show that needs no introduction.

Despite two decades of theatrical dominance, there has not been a single decent film adaptation of this beloved musical, until now. After years of preparation and fans clamouring, “Wicked” is finally getting its long overdue musical, but does it translate into a great cinematic experience? Will this film rise up and defy all the naysayers and theatrical purists? Or will it be a cinematic flop that no one will mourn?

For those who are unaware of the musical “Wicked,” it follows the story of Elfaba Thropp (played by Cynthia Erivo), the soon-to-be-Wicked Witch of the West, as she enters Shiz University. There, she encounters Galinda Upland, who later turns into Glinda (played by Ariana Grande), the bubbly popular girl in the university. The two naturally clash and butt heads because of their forced predicament, but they eventually become close friends, despite all the obstacles that come their way.

Before moving on, we’d like to preface this review by pointing out that this film is based on a musical, and naturally, it will have musical sequences. However, we highly recommend that you watch the stage play online if it’s available, or listen to the original album before watching this film, as it would give a lot of context to the film. This will give some spoilers, but being a 20-year-old show, it is a sin to have avoided a masterpiece this long. Furthermore, it will serve as a proper benchmark for you to adequately compare the original vocals of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth to Erivo and Grande.

Long story short, the hype behind the film is real! To keep things concise, “Wicked” is one of the best movie musical adaptations in recent years. Even if the film were an original creation with no novel or Broadway musical backing it up, it is still an absolute thrill ride, packed with comedic and gut-wrenching scenes in equal measure. Much of the magic is made possible through the absolutely stunning chemistry between Erivo and Grande. Their relationship throughout the movie is an emotional rollercoaster, from Glinda’s hysterical and frantic movements that always make us laugh, to Elfaba’s tear-jerking dance.

And that’s not mentioning their absolutely stunning vocal range. These two actresses owns each song throughout the film and creates a masterful work of art that is comparable to the original musical production. Of course, they are nothing like the original singers, and they are not supposed to be; these two have taken the songs and made them their own. And the fact that they are singing live as they are dancing about is nothing short of amazing.

Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morbelle and Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz are also incredibly stunning in their roles. Despite Yeoh’s claims of not being able to sing, she is still able to rise up alongside the rest of the cast, most of whom have been musically trained since childhood. The same sentiment extends to Goldblum, but he does fall short with his “Sentimental Man” song.

Naturally, when there’s music, there is dancing. And we are pleased to report that the choreography of the film is absolutely on point. From the tap dancing of a solo performer to a group’s synchronised marches, we felt the rhyme each step, and we’d be lying if we said we weren’t shuffling to the beat in our seats.

Of course, we need to address the elephant in the room.  If you are aware of the musical or have heard the stories online, then you’d know that this film has been cut into two parts. Online discourse argues that it is because they wanted to squeeze more money out of audiences’ wallets, but we doubt that. The likely reason is that it is an extremely long story and that it is only right to end it at the first act (though the one-year wait between this and part two is leaving us itching for more). Regardless, the film ends on quite a high note.

“Wicked” is a phenomenal musical movie masterpiece. From its superb singing and dancing, to the gripping acting performances by all the lead actors, it is an excellent adaptation that is an absolute treat for fans of the original musical. And even for those who have never watched or listened to the original Broadway musical, it is still a gripping cinematic experience that will leave you wanting more. Because of this, we can’t wait for part 2!

“Wicked” will be in theatres nationwide on 21st November.