“Wicked” Defies the Gravity of Expectations with a Flawless Stage-to-Screen Adaptation

It should go without saying that musicals are one of the hardest things to pull off in live-action cinema (just ask “Joker: Folie A Deux”), especially when it’s an adaptation of one of the most popular Broadway plays of all time which in turn is based on one of the most popular books in the past century.

But all what  director Jon M. Chu needed to ace this incredibly difficult assignment was his expertise from the “Step Up” movies, some of the most talented crew around, some Universal Pictures’ cash, and impeccable acting from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

As a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” (picking up where the story ends) and the first part of a two-film adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical—itself based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West”—“Wicked” remains remarkably faithful to its root(s).

Although one may argue that two hours and 40 minutes is a bit stretchy— it is just five minutes shy of the full-length stage production—there is surprisingly no new addition to the source material with the extension allowing characters to bloom and musical numbers to fit inside its enormous scale and scope.

The entire story rests on one timeless question: “Are people born wicked or do they have wickedness thrown at them?” For Erivo’s Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, the latter is her story from the very moment she was born because of her rare green skin.

The audience is greeted in a town in the land of Oz, Munchkinland, which is euphoric upon hearing news that Elphaba has met a horrible end. In arrives Ariana Grande’s blonde Galinda (Glinda the Good) in a pink bubble to confirm the news and a question by one Munchkinfolk morphs into a two-hour flashback (with more on the way in Part 2 by the way).

The stage moves to Shiz University—which is surprisingly neither dull nor lifeless thanks to production designer Nathan Crowley—where Elphaba gets admitted after her inadvertent magical display catches the eye of Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible, Shiz’s Dean of Sorcery Studies.

Under Morrible’s tutelage, who dangles the promise of a meeting with the legendary Wizard of Oz (played by Jeff Goldblum), Elphaba is given her first taste of recognition for her unique abilities. However, her joy is cut short of absolute when paired with the mean Glinda as roommates. It’s the evolution of this sour-turned-genuine friendship—a chemistry is perhaps most heartwarming at the Ozdust Ballroom—that moves “Wicked.”

Elphaba has always been the heart of the play ever since Idina Menzal wore the black cloak and pointed hat in the 2003 Broadway play. Still, Erivo’s portrayal brings the character’s internal struggle with rejection, love, the unfailing hope for an egalitarian society that frowns at ostracism—including upholding the eroding rights of animals in Oz—and eventual rage to the realm of relatability. Although Erivo and Elphaba outshine Glinda and Grande, performance and sympathy-wise, the latter’s comic performance makes her otherwise unlikeable character worth rooting for.

On to what makes or breaks movies of this type: the musicals. “Wicked”s musical numbers are as fascinating as they are grand. Whether it’s the exuberant “paint the town pink” vibe of “Popular,” where Glinda teaches Elphaba the art of slaying at Shiz University; the awesome book-dancing craft of Jonathan Bailey’s lover boy Fiyero in “Dancing Through Life”; or the camera pans in pièce de résistance number “Defying Gravity,” at least one song will surely rent a space in your head by the time you reach home.

For fans who long a viewing just to sing along to Stephen Schwartz’s well-known tunes, it’s like a hungry cow in a field of green, enough to satiate every one of their musical cravings. Erivo’s voice is the real shocker (this is Ariana-territory so no surprises from the popstar) and the bonus of performing live during filming only adds to its naturalism.

Given that the man at the helm is the same one who brought the world “Crazy Rich Asians”, “Step Up,” and “In The Heights,” it should be no surprise that Chu delivers on “Wicked”; he brings all the mastery of film school and sheer imagination to make this musical VERY appealing.

Once again, Crowley’s production design deserves special recognition and might be the silent backer of this film. For a movie that takes place in the flamboyant world of Oz, one that many filmmakers would happily go the CGI way, there are a lot of practical sets. The green ride to Emerald city is an actual multiple-ton train built on set and the few CGI moments that do appear are merely of enhancing value. Of course, there are monkeys and Peter Dinklage’s talking goat, but the crew honestly came short of channeling their inner Christopher Nolan and constructing the land of Oz from scratch in a rural countryside in America. Combined with Paul Tazewell’s costumes and John Powell’s score, the realm of Oz has never been more immersive.

“Wicked” has the added advantage of being relevant in today’s political landscape, where discrimination, migration, minority rights, and descent into fascism—not unlike the land of Oz—have become a staple in beer parlor talks. But that plays second fiddle to all its colorful cinematic extravaganza.

Perhaps more importantly, the movie does a good job of satisfying familiar audiences without making newer audiences feel lost—getting the uninterested invested. That said, if you’re one of those who have never been too keen on musicals or following the Barbenheimer-like “Glicked” (“Gladiator II” and “Wicked”) band-wagon, 900 or so words might not be enough to convince you otherwise, especially with what haters would want you to believe is a girly affair. However, for fans of the Broadway musical, “Wicked” will be as close to perfection as anything else.

We’ll be here this time next year when Part 2 opens on the silver screen. If “Mission Impossible” playing it safe has reinforced reasons why making two-part films is a gamble, Jon Chu’s skill in this first half should calm any nerves at Universal Pictures.

Release Date: November 22, 2024
Runtime: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Streaming Service: No, Cinematic release
Director: Jon M. Chu
Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum