The on-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked” is a film I will never forget. I can easily give “Wicked” 4.5/5 stars. While I may be biased as a lifelong fan of the Broadway musical, I truly believe that director Jon M. Chu did more than justice to “Wicked.”
When I first heard Hollywood was bringing my favorite Broadway musical to the big screen, I was ecstatic! However, I can’t lie: I was pretty hesitant in the choice of Ariana Grande for Glinda the Good Witch. My prior perception of Grande was a child star turned pop star with not much acting talent beyond the scope of Nickelodeon. But let me just tell you, I was blown away by the pop star’s performance. Of course, Grande’s vocals are unbelievable and shine in tracks like “No One Mourns the Wicked” and “Popular,” but she also manages to capture the comedic, dim-witted and peppy persona of Glinda. Cynthia Erivo, the other female lead, also portrays her character, Elphaba, tremendously well. I think Erivo’s Broadway experience really contributes to her great performance.
In addition to the great cast, I thought the set perfectly encapsulates what Oz would look like. First of all, I was very impressed with how producers built Munchkinland, Shiz University and The Emerald City in England instead of using CGI. I think the element of real infrastructure helps make Oz really come to life for the audience. I was shocked with the dedication to set building when I heard they even planted 9 million tulips to surround
Munckinland.
Finally, of course, I have to applaud the perfect production of the “Wicked” soundtrack. In my opinion, this is the most important part to nail, and the producers have nailed it right on the head. In this first part of “Wicked,” they did not change any songs, but I have heard that they have some new tracks for Part 2. I think it is the right idea not to mess with any songs because there are so many fan favorites like “Defying Gravity,” “Dancing Through Life” and “Popular.” And I like how for the majority of the time, the actors stick to the same sound as the musical, but add little changes here
and there to make it their own. While the production of the music was spot on, I also have to acknowledge the fantastic dance numbers that accompany “Dancing Through Life” and “What is This Feeling?” They are definitely a favorite!
As for complaints, I only have one: the length. At two hours and 40 minutes, “Wicked” does feel a little long. As a lifelong fan, I was on the edge of my seat for every minute of it, but I can easily see it being pretty long for those who are having their first “Wicked” experience. I also think the musical could be adapted into one movie instead of two. The musical run time is around two hours and 30 minutes, which makes me feel like splitting it up was just a money grab.
Nonetheless, “Wicked” is a magical experience and a successful adaptation of the Broadway favorite.