There is a lot of pressure on the cinematic adaptation of “Wicked.”
The original “Wicked” is an utterly iconic musical. The production, based on Gregory Maguire’s novel reimagining L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” has achieved nearly unparalleled status in the United States theatrical canon. It has been running continuously since 2003, making it the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history. The production has received three Tony awards, a Grammy and overall international acclaim. Simply put, the show is not only a pillar of Broadway but a major cultural influence in general.
With this status in mind, it is hard to understate the sheer weight of audience expectations for this movie. The extent of hype surrounding the film may make one wonder if a film adaptation could ever possibly deliver. I was one of these skeptics. To me, as to many others, “Wicked” is a very personal story: It was the first musical I ever saw, my first introduction to the world of theater and entertainment in general. I went into this movie with much apprehension and a heavy dose of skepticism. After all, how could “Wicked” live up to the considerable cultural legacy its source material has created?
However, I am thrilled to report that the live-action movie adaptation of “Wicked” not only delivered on the high standards set by the musical but exceeded my admittedly high personal expectations. The world, characters and plot of “Wicked” are so successfully translated to the screen that the film feels less like a remake and more like a necessary, wonderful and enthralling expansion of the story.
The cinematography, soundtrack and performances stood out as the necessary factors that “Wicked” needed to excel in. Needless to say, it did. Before the movie’s release, one of the biggest critiques on social media surrounding the production was a seeming lack of color within the sets, costumes and general look of the film. In trailers, the world of Oz, a world known for the technicolor aesthetic seen in the 1939 version of “The Wizard of Oz,” seemed to be dull and backlit. There was a noticeable lack of vibrancy in advertisements, which made many fearful of the faithfulness of the adaptation. While I was also concerned about this lack of vibrancy, it simply was not an issue on the big screen.
In fact, the world of “Wicked” is so full of color and life that it completely enthralls the viewer. It was incredible to see fully realized physical sets that were only enhanced by wonderfully integrated CGI tactics. Vibrancy exploded off the screen and the setting, one that previously had been limited to the stage, became fully actualized through the lens of film. The medium seemed entirely necessary in order to explore this world fully, making the adaptation feel purposeful and driven. This is an Oz we have never seen and one whose colors and intricacies make me want to explore more.
Another primary aspect on which the film’s quality hinged on was the successful translation of the musical’s soundtrack to cinematic vocal performances. Luckily, this goal was also fully achieved. The soundtrack of the film is absolutely incredible and entirely holds up to the original, with all of the vocals sounding just as clean, catchy and powerful. The film incorporates iconic musical motifs throughout its runtime, teasing the audience as the story progresses, before finally allowing the songs to be fully realized in grand displays of music, dance and choreography that could only be achieved through the magic of film.
Much of the soundtrack’s success rested on two main performances: that of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande). Once again, the film hit the mark here, bringing true life and power to the characters through both unbelievably strong vocal performances and nuanced acting which revealed the dedication both women clearly had to their roles. Other notable performances include Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, whose charm perfectly matches the character’s rogue tendencies, and Jeff Goldblum, who captured the eccentric and endearing yet off-putting nature of the Wizard.
The only major flaw I can find in the film stems from a slight marketing mischaracterization: The “Wicked” film adaptation is not the whole story of the musical, but rather simply the first part, with the second part releasing in 2025. This makes the already almost 3-hour experience seem incredibly tedious. However, the film uses every moment of its run time to its fullest potential.
Furthermore, I am glad the rather complex story is being given the opportunity to be completely explored.
Overall, “Wicked” is an absolutely, fabulously fun cinematic experience, one that both upholds and expands on the show’s iconic legacy and one I am so happy will provide new fans with a faithful and well-made entrance into the world of “Wicked.”
