When I first entered the movie theater to view “Wicked: For Good” on its opening weekend, I had extremely high expectations. I wanted it all; the glamor and kindness of Glinda played by Ariana Grande, a heart wrenching performance of Elphaba’s struggle portrayed by Cynthia Erivo, and the charm and allure of Fiyero represented by the one and only, Jonathan Bailey. Not only did I leave the theater thoroughly satisfied, but I too, was changed for good.
As someone who has seen the musical live, I am sure that I can speak for everyone that also has when I say that director Jon M. Chu absolutely hit this adaptation out of the park. From the costumes to the acting and raw emotion, each scene and song was filled with the same magic that the Broadway stage originally created. I was blown away by the performances of Grande, Erivo and Bailey, and thoroughly impressed with their dedication and pride when it came to embodying their characters fully and completely.
There was a lot of room for potential error when the first movie came out regarding Erivo and Grande’s singing, and that intimidation certainly did not go away when the second part was released. The pressure was on for Chu to reach the bar that the original Elphaba and Glinda, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, had set. However, Chu’s decision of having the leading actors sing live on the set allowed for the acoustics of each song to feel just like the original musical, perfectly recreating the raw emotion that each song is meant to hold.
Although I have read several reviews complaining about how Dorothy’s face was never revealed, I personally thought that it was another thoughtful choice made by Chu. Not only did her hidden identity allow for the suspense to build for the next movie that is in the works, but it also let the spotlight stay on Elphaba and Glinda, letting their story be the most important theme in the movie, furthering the beauty of their relationship.
If you are on the fence about seeing “Wicked: For Good,” let this be your sign to get those front row tickets and “Wicked” themed popcorn buckets immediately. Not only did this movie capture the original story of “Wicked” with intense accuracy and passion, but it also left me feeling fulfilled with love and pride for the actors that sacrificed so much of their lives off screen to make it happen. I am positive that you will leave the movie theater feeling changed for good, just like Elphaba, Glinda, and I did.
