Like most theatre fans, my expectations walking into the Wicked movie were high. I think it’s safe to say the film was one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year by many, myself included. Last year on Christmas, I was able to see the show on Broadway, with Alyssa Fox and McKenzie Kurtz as Elphaba and Galinda. I sat in tears during intermission, and walked out of the theatre at the end of the night feeling changed for the better. A few weeks later the film adaptation was announced, and I was more than ecstatic.
My first glimpses of the movie once it finally came out were clips on TikTok, mainly of Cynthia Erivo’s “Defying Gravity”, and Ariana Grande’s “Popular”. I wasn’t really sure how to feel at first, since it felt so different from the 20 year running stage production.
However, from the moment the first notes of “No One Mourns the Wicked” played, the theatre was silent. Ariana Grande’s incredible range allowed her to beautifully open the film, and her character choices had me immediately forgetting her popstar self; for the nearly three hours of the movie, she was truly just Galinda Upland. Galinda has always been my favorite character in the musical, thanks to her bubbly and at times wittifying personality, and superior fashion sense. Galinda’s character development throughout the show is one of the most pivotal aspects for me. I think Grande helped her begin this change perfectly, though this was only the first half of the movie, the second to come next November.
The same goes for Cynthia Erivo. She managed to look stunning even while painted green, and everything she said felt genuine. She was instantly likeable, and all her sarcastic one liners had me stifling laughs. Her vocals are a whole other story, with her unmatched tone and clarity. If I wasn’t crying by the end of “No One Mourns the Wicked”, I certainly was by the end of “The Wizard and I”, thanks to both Erivo’s beautiful performance and the indescribably gorgeous set around her.
Wicked, to me, has its own perfectly curated vibe. It’s timelessly futuristic, with an almost utopian feeling. With Jon Chu’s directing, this mood was reminiscent of both the stage musical and the novel by Gregory McGuire that started it all. From the costuming to the design choices, there were many scenes where I was more focused on the jaw dropping beauty of all the small details than the actual words being said. This was also true for the catchy choreography throughout every song. Especially during “What is This Feeling”, the ensemble choreography added a whole new level of enjoyability to the song for me.
This held true for Jonathan Bailey’s “Dancing Through Life”. I won’t lie, I had low expectations for the song, as it was my personal least favorite when I saw the show on Broadway. Bailey completely changed my opinion on the song, though. He was flipping around the screen while hitting notes that scratched an itch in my brain. Though Fiyero still remains my least favorite character, as he does Galinda dirty time and time again, I no longer skip “Dancing Through Life” when listening to the soundtrack.
“Popular” is what seems to be the most popular song from the film, and for good reason. Grande truly embodied Galinda for the entire movie, but it was especially clear in this song. Her character choices seemed to come so naturally, and they were so fitting. From her exclaimed “Right!” to her additions at the end of the song, it was perfect through and through.
The transition from this to the Ozdust Ballroom scene felt like an emotional rollercoaster that took me from tapping my foot to crying my eyes out. The best moment of the movie for me was Galinda and Elphaba’s shared dance. It was just so truly beautiful, more so than I could have ever anticipated. Erivo and Grande’s acting in combination with the instrumental and choreography
The climax of the film was, of course, “Defying Gravity”. Watching Elphaba find her true potential after having her dreams crushed, all while Galinda yearns for her to stay. Erivo’s choices throughout the song were absolutely perfect in every way. You could feel her power with every note, right up until the credits began to roll.
All in all, I feel everyone involved in the film did a wonderful job. I entered the theatre with high expectations, and I left with chills. If you have the chance to go see this musical while it’s in theatres, I could not recommend it enough. Though it was only the first half of the show, it was a Wicked (I know you’ve been waiting for this pun) good watch. Having seen the on broadway show before this adaption, I can say with certainty that it is worth the watch whether or not you’ve seen the show on stage before.
