Reviews
Wicked: For Good
It was always going to be a hard task for Wicked: For Good to live up to the spectacle of the first movie. Jon M. Chu’s original film did more than win over fans of the musical. It captivated even those who had never heard of Wicked before. Unfortunately, much like the second half of the stage show, the so-called epic conclusion here feels like a sluggish crawl to the finish line. The film struggles to justify why the story needed to be split into two parts, beyond the obvious profitability factor, and ultimately feels a little disappointing given the extraordinary heights the first movie achieved.
Picking up where Wicked left off, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) has been cast as the Wicked Witch of the West, soaring through the skies on her broomstick and “destroying” the lives of the Ozians below. Madame Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh) propaganda machine works tirelessly to present the world as colourful and joyful while portraying Elphaba as the ultimate evil. The ditzy yet hilarious Glinda (Ariana Grande) may be the most effective propaganda tool of all, travelling across Oz in a whimsical floating bubble and offering Ozians the comforting hope that the witch will be stopped. Meanwhile, the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) continues to conceal his authoritarian intentions from the citizens while Elphaba sets out to expose the lies at the heart of Oz.
Narratively, Wicked: For Good remains faithful to the source material, exploring Glinda and Elphaba’s struggles to live separate lives as society drives them apart. Glinda plays her part as the darling of the kingdom, even announcing a surprise engagement to the now Captain Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), despite his heart clearly lying elsewhere. Elphaba, by contrast, is forced to live in a shadowy forest as she works to disrupt the Wizard’s lies and reveal the truth to the people of Oz.
The story of an unlikely and life-changing friendship should provide darker and more emotional themes, but the first two acts struggle to deliver on this. The pacing is noticeably uneven, which makes the runtime feel even longer. There is little deeper exploration of the political tension that the stage musical suggests, which would have been a welcome addition. Instead it often feels like the film is holding out for the grand final act, leaving the audience impatient to reach it.
While the first two acts have pacing issues that may turn some general audiences off, the final act is absolutely phenomenal. Whether you are familiar with the stage musical or experiencing the story for the first time, the emotional weight of the final sequences comes as a genuine surprise. Grande and Erivo deliver a stunning rendition of “Because I Knew You,” a moment that serves as the perfect culmination of the two films and stands as one of the strongest musical performances of the year. It also contains a shot that will almost certainly go down as one of the most memorable cinematic frames of recent years.
Grande and Erivo manage to work miracles with the material they are given, even when the writing is noticeably sloppy. Without such compelling performances, it would be easy for Wicked: For Good to collapse under the weight of its enormous expectations. Instead, both actors pour everything they have into their roles, and watching them rise to the challenge is one of the film’s greatest joys. They are two performers operating at the top of their game, delivering some of the most memorable performances of the year. With a movie event of this calibre, awards talk can feel overwhelming, but Grande and Erivo deserve every single mention they receive. They are truly that good.
The technical craftsmanship on display throughout Wicked: For Good is out of this world. As with the first movie, the vibrant colours and practical set pieces are impeccable. I lost count of the number of moments that made me feel as if I had been transported straight into the land of Oz, which speaks to how remarkable the production design is. Production designer Nathan Crowley deserves a tremendous amount of acclaim, and it would not be surprising to see the film receive awards recognition similar to its predecessor. The costume work is equally impressive, adding even more richness to the world of Oz. Paul Tazewell has crafted outfits that transform the actors into convincing Ozians with meticulous detail and imagination, which is sure to wow audiences.
Much of the pre-release discussion focused on the two new original songs and whether they would complement or detract from the story. Unfortunately, although both “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble” are strong numbers, they follow the same pattern as the rest of the songs in the second half of the stage show and in Wicked: For Good. They simply do not reach the lofty heights of the first half.
There is a wide array of things to love in Wicked: For Good, with many elements meeting expectations and some, particularly the performances, even surpassing them. Yet ultimately, the second half struggles to live up to the first, and the writing and direction leave much to be desired. As someone who has seen the stage musical, I know the first half is far more exciting than the second, so I was naturally sceptical when I heard the story had been split into two films. Sadly, that scepticism proved justified. While there is plenty to enjoy, the film often feels lethargic as it meanders to the finish line. So when Jon M. Chu teased a potential third movie, all I could think was please don’t.
