Review - Wicked (2024)

        Hey guys, Chuck here. I just got back from seeing Wicked, the newest film from director Jon M. Chu, and based on the Broadway musical of the same name. This movie stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. 

        Set in the Land of Oz, Wicked tells the story of a witch named Elphaba, a young woman treated as an outcast by her peers due to her green skin. We also explore her unlikely friendship with another young witch, Glinda, and their journey together at the prestigious Shiz University, ran by the enigmatic Madame Morrible, and their first encounter with the man known as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. 

        Okay, so if I'm being completely honest, I initially had very little interest in checking this one out. Despite the fact that I am a fan of The Wizard of Oz, I never saw the original stage version of Wicked. So, I wasn't really set on checking out a film adaptation. But, I was genuinely surprised at how much I effing LOVED this movie. No, really, this was easily one of the best times I had at a movie this year. The first thing that amazed me was the scale. This movie is just massive, especially with the designs for Shiz University and the Emerald City. Also, the choreography was absolutely amazing. 

        The music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz was fantastic, and performed exceptionally well by the cast. Both Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz genuinely surprised me with how well they sang. Also,. I thoroughly enjoyed the performances of Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq, and Marissa Bode as Nessarose. Also, I thought that Peter Dinklage did some great voice work as a goat named Dr. Dillamond. And, something I'm sure some fans will be happy to see, without going into context, is a fun musical cameo by Wicked's original Broadway stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. 

        But, the two main draws were, of course, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. And, both ladies were nothing short of thoroughly fantastic. Ariana Grande, especially, was entertaining as the kindhearted but popularity-obsessed Glinda, and her rendition of the song "Popular" was really fun. But, she PALED in comparison to Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, who was truly mesmerizing. I was especially floored with her rendition of Wicked's signature song "Defying Gravity." Honestly, Cynthia Erivo's performance was easily one of the best things about this movie. 

        One thing that is both a strength and a hindrance for the movie is its length and pacing. For context, the Broadway musical Wicked runs about three hours plus intermission, and that covers two acts. The movie version of Wicked is planned as a two-part film, with the first film covering Act One of the stage version. And, the film runs at just under three hours. And, there's a lot that's still included from the stage version, but much of it is extended to fill out the run time. Again, both a good and not-so-good thing with this movie. 

         All in all, I had a great time with this movie. I highly recommend checking it out in theaters, and I am now definitely looking forward to seeing Wicked: Part Two next November. As for Wicked: Part One? I'm giving it a rating of 5/5. 

        Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you guys next time with my review of The Penguin.