The Wicked Witch of the West has one of the most recognizable deaths in fiction. L. Frank Buam’s original book series, “The Wonderful World of Oz,” paints her as a vile tyrant that fans are happy to see Dorothy kill. I certainly cheered when she melted. However, the recently released movie-musical “Wicked: Part One,” based on the similarly named 2003 Broadway production, puts a spin on that narrative.
The Wicked Witch, whose real name is revealed to be Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), is kind, passionate and misunderstood due to her unusual green skin. She directly contrasts with secondary protagonist Glinda (Ariana Grande), who is all things blonde, bubbly and popular. Both women are forced to confront the seedy underside of Oz, and both choose diverging paths. Glinda, used to a life of privilege and grandeur, doesn’t want to risk her reputation. Elphaba, who has always been an outcast, is willing to be ostracized in order to do the right thing.
As a longtime fan of “The Wizard of Oz,” I had been underwhelmed with “Wicked” after I saw a live production in 2023. It was easy to tell that “Wicked” was 20 years old. The show’s tackling of disability and racial discrimination — though not awful — felt clunky at best. To me, there was nothing particularly standout about the plot and characters, and I found it to be a long winded unnecessary addition to the classic “Wizard of Oz” story. The songs were certainly bops, but I swept them under the rug along with the rest of the musical and went about my life accepting it just wasn’t for me.
That being said, things changed after I fell victim to the movie’s $150 million global marketing campaign. “Wicked,” unlike its stage counterpart, immediately bewitched me. While aggressively loyal to its source material at times, there were some much needed changes implemented. to the handling of Elphaba’s sister Nessarose and her disability. The original script leaves Nessa as a glorified plot device; Elpheba is only enrolled in Shiz to take care of her.
The movie gives the Nessarose much more agency. Instead of being portrayed as spoiled and helpless, movie Nessa is adamant that she can take care of herself independently. Additionally, Marissa Bode, who played Nessa in the movie, is the first disabled actor to ever play the character.
Director Jon Chu takes absolute advantage of the medium change, and is able to create an immersive visual experience complete with dazzling sets, choreography, costuming and visual effects. The sequences in “Dancing Through Life,” introducing Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), and “One Short Day,” focusing on Elphaba and Glinda’s arrival to the Emerald City, are definite standouts and help to make the movie a visual feast.
Of all of the film’s feats, Erivo’s performance is easily the most impressive and the most memorable. Her portrayal of Elphaba breathes life and vulnerability into the character, and it made me instantly fall in love with the story. Grande, while not delivering the same heights, pours her soul into Glinda. Both give outstanding performances vocally. Erivo delivered exactly what she’s known for as a musical theater juggernaut, and it was pleasantly surprising to see Grande explore her upper operatic register, which has gone unused throughout her pop career.
The cast is just as stacked outside of Erivo and Grande. Jonathan Bailey, who plays the whimsical Prince Fiyero, radiates confident, careless, exuberant bisexual vibes that make him an absolute delight in every scene he’s in. Jeff Goldblum does a fantastic job as The Wizard. Ethan Slater’s interpretation of Boq is awkward in the best way, and I’m always happy when Michelle Yeoh is on screen, so she was fun to see as Madame Morrible.
The film definitely operates under the assumption that more is more, which can create a bloated feeling at times. The broadway show has a runtime of two hours and 45 minutes, including its 15 minute intermission. The movie, which only covers part one of the musical, has a runtime of two hours and 40 minutes. Some of that extra time is much needed — it lets the story breathe and gives the audience time to become invested in Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship.
“Wicked” is a wild and whimsical story that was captured pretty perfectly in this film. I can’t wait for part two, and while I don’t normally listen to musical soundtracks, I’m pretty sure “What Is This Feeling?” is quickly becoming my most-listened-to song.
