"Wicked” is 2024’s musical of the year. For me, the musical of the year is one that both garners a cult following and ends up somewhere in my Spotify Wrapped.
As a once-fanatic-now-casual theatre kid, this movie excited me. Seeing musical theatre become part of the zeitgeist makes teenage Elizabeth happy, and the “Wicked” movie solidified itself as a part of pop culture.
Now, strap in because there is no easy way to describe this plot.
"Wicked,” based on the Broadway musical of the same name, tells the story of Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), also known as the Wicked Witch of the West from the 1939 classic, “The Wizard of Oz.” We follow her through a university as she finds her footing in social settings and makes friends (or frenemies?), such as Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande), later known as Glinda the Good Witch.
Throughout her journey at school, Elphaba faces hardship and discrimination from her peers due to her green skin. She is assigned a dorm with Galinda, much to Galinda’s initial chagrin. However, the two sort through their differences and learn they share a lot in common despite outward appearances. They become an unlikely pair.
Elphaba is called to the Emerald City by the famed Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), and Galinda accompanies her on the journey. There, the two learn that some truths are revealed to be smoke and mirrors, and their deepest desires might not be what they originally thought. Their friendship is tested by these discoveries and hardships, and it ultimately weaves a story about empowerment and standing up for what is right.
Most of the songs in the movie are standouts, thanks to the ensemble work. One of these is the opening number, “No One Mourns the Wicked.” Here, we scratch the surface of the energy the ensemble brings to this film.
The harmonies, as well as the choreography, capture the excitement and hook the audience in the first few minutes. I, personally, had chills, and I think it’s what got me excited enough to sit through all 2 hours and 41 minutes without using the restroom.
The two other big ensemble numbers are “Dancing Through Life” and “One Short Day,” both of which have great ensemble work in both singing and dancing. “Dancing Through Life” showcases Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) as the suave yet cynical love interest of both Elphaba and Galinda. Bailey stood out in this number, showcasing his superb vocal and physical abilities.
However, the two who seemed to captivate me the most on screen were our two heroines. Ariana Grande gives a wonderful performance as Galinda, really capturing her bubbly essence.
However, Grande also plays on the nuances of the Good Witch’s personality. Through small choices and facial expressions, she shows this internal conflict Galinda has when it comes to her desires, as well as the consequences of her own choices.
Now, I can hear the cries of people telling me that I was “looking too far into it” and that “it’s not that deep.” To that, I regret to inform you that I am an English minor. It is, in fact, that deep. I believe Grande’s performance reflected that depth.
Even though Grande gave an exceptional performance, Erivo was the true standout of the film. Now, being the main character, she should be, but I believe all the other characters framed her so well that in addition to the multitudes of talent she contains, she really shined.
Erivo flawlessly gives this character so much depth, letting the audience see all facets of Elphaba before she becomes branded as “The Wicked Witch.”
Songs such as “The Wizard and I” and “I’m Not That Girl” give us emotionally vulnerable moments of excitement and heartbreak, respectively. Erivo takes those feelings and runs with them, giving an outstanding performance that leaves the audience cheering her on and sympathizing with her.
I could honestly go on about Erivo’s performance in this movie, but for the sake of time and you, dear reader, I will continue.
Of course, nothing is perfect, as everything will always leave something to be desired. Such is human nature. Unfortunately, the same goes for "Wicked”.
While the 2 hour and 41 minute movie is unnaturally long for a movie, I never felt like it was dragging. It was probably the quickest 161 minutes of my life. However, certain sequences felt like a long time, particularly the songs.
Even though it is the most popular song, the one that seemed to drag the most was “Defying Gravity.” While the performances were great, the stop-and-go of this song really threw off the buildup to the climax of the song, which is Elphaba’s battle cry.
The anticipation of the end of the song is what keeps the momentum. In the film, the song is paused multiple times for scenes of dialogue, destroying the intensity. The five minute song turns into a 15minute sequence that leaves the viewer checking their watch.
Another flaw with this movie is that some parts felt rushed or not explained very well.
Fortunately, as I was submerged in the musical theatre world in high school, I went in knowing a good bit about the story beforehand.
However, my not-so-acquainted friends had some questions about plot points after the movie. Some of it felt very clunky and not as smooth as it tried to be.
Overallthough, the movie is fantastic. In all honesty, I thought it would be laughed off the face of the earth. The cards were not in this movie’s favor, from TikTok making fun of Erivo’s “Defying Gravity” riff to simply just being a musical.
However, from its massive popularity worldwide and box office success, I’d say “Wicked” is doing just fine. I believe it is one of those movies you should watch at least once, and I would definitely recommend it for a girls’ night in.
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