Jon M. Chu's highly anticipated adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical “Wicked” is a magical spectacle that pays homage to its source material while taking it to new heights. With stunning performances, breathtaking visuals, and a thoughtful exploration of themes, “Wicked” shines as a triumph in modern movie musicals. Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Elphaba challenges stereotypes and sparks important conversations about representation and storytelling in this fresh take on the Land of Oz.
Erivo’s Commanding Performance as Elphaba
Cynthia Erivo brings a fresh and electrifying energy to the iconic role of “Elphaba”, the misunderstood green-skinned witch. The Tony Award-winning actress infuses the character with remarkable depth, seamlessly balancing vulnerability with fierce determination. Her portrayal captures both the character's isolation and her gradual emergence into self-acceptance, delivered with nuanced facial expressions and powerful body language that translate beautifully to the screen.
Erivo's classical training shines through in her commanding screen presence, bringing a gravitas to Elphaba that feels both true to the beloved stage version and distinctly cinematic. Her interactions with Ariana Grande's “Glinda” reveal layers of complexity in their evolving relationship, with Erivo masterfully conveying Elphaba's transformation from guarded outsider to passionate advocate for justice. The chemistry between the two leads adds compelling dimension to this adaptation of the musical.
Perhaps most striking is how Erivo makes this well-known role entirely her own, stepping out of the shadows of previous interpretations to deliver a fresh perspective on Elphaba's journey. Her performance brings a contemporary resonance to themes of prejudice and persecution, while maintaining the character's timeless appeal. Through Erivo's interpretation, Elphaba emerges as a more multifaceted character than ever before, one whose moral complexity and emotional journey feel especially relevant for today's audiences.
A Trip to Oz
The cinematic adaptation of “Wicked” emerges as a visually spectacular journey that transforms the Land of Oz into a breathtaking reality. The filmmakers have created an immersive world where each frame serves as a stunning canvas, elevating the source material through masterful use of modern visual effects technology.
At its heart, this adaptation maintains a sharp focus on the complex dynamics of power, privilege, and social justice that made the stage production so compelling. The casting of a Black actress as Elphaba adds profound new dimensions to the narrative's exploration of othering and societal prejudice. This creative decision amplifies the story's resonance with contemporary audiences while organically integrating with the established metaphor of green skin as a marker of difference.
Ariana Grande's portrayal of Glinda presents a nuanced character study of personal growth and awareness. Her performance charts a compelling trajectory from a position of unexamined privilege to someone who develops genuine empathy and understanding. The evolution of her relationship with Elphaba serves as a powerful lens through which to examine how individuals can acknowledge and address their own privilege.
The film excels in its careful attention to visual symbolism, particularly in its use of color to underscore thematic elements. This artistic choice enriches the storytelling, creating layers of meaning that reward careful viewing. The production design works in harmony with the performances to create a cohesive artistic vision that honors the source material while finding its own cinematic voice.
The narrative particularly shines in its examination of institutional power and the ways in which societal structures can perpetuate inequality. Through both Elphaba's journey toward self-acceptance and Glinda's path to greater awareness, the film offers a thoughtful critique of systemic prejudice while maintaining hope for positive change through personal growth and understanding.
The entire cast demonstrates remarkable vocal prowess that serves the emotional core of the story. The musical numbers are staged with both theatrical flair and cinematic sophistication, creating memorable moments that advance both plot and character development while honoring the beloved score.
Why Two Parts
The decision to split “Wicked” into two films appears largely unnecessary when examining the source material. The original Broadway musical, while rich in content, runs approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes and has been successfully telling its complete story in one sitting for two decades. Major stage musicals like “Les Misérables” and “The Phantom of the Opera” managed to adapt their similarly complex narratives into single films, suggesting “Wicked” could have done the same with careful editing.
From a narrative perspective, “Wicked” has a naturally cohesive three-act structure that doesn't lend itself to a clean split. The story of Elphaba and Glinda's relationship, from their initial animosity to their complex friendship, works best as a continuous journey. Breaking this arc into two parts risks diluting the emotional impact of key moments like “Defying Gravity” and “For Good,” which gain power from their placement within a single, flowing narrative.
The musical's runtime could reasonably translate to a 2.5-3 hour film – a length audiences have repeatedly shown they'll accept for major event movies. Recent successful musicals like “In the Heights” demonstrated that comprehensive stage-to-screen adaptations can work within a single film. Even with additional character development and expanded sequences, the core story of “Wicked” doesn't inherently demand two features to tell effectively.
The two-part structure also raises concerns about pacing and narrative bloat. Adding content to justify two films risks padding out a story that works precisely because of its tight cause-and-effect storytelling on stage. There's a danger of overelaborating on elements that don't need further explanation, potentially diminishing the musical's carefully crafted ambiguity about certain plot points and character motivations.
The financial motivation behind splitting the adaptation seems transparent, following in the footsteps of franchises like “The Hunger Games” and “Harry Potter.” However, those properties had source material specifically written as longer series. “Wicked” was conceived as a single, complete story, and forcing it into a two-part structure could be seen as prioritizing box office potential over storytelling integrity.
Despite valid concerns about the two-part format, the first installment of “Wicked” delivers a visually stunning and emotionally resonant adaptation that stands on its own merits. Director Jon M. Chu's attention to detail in bringing Oz to life is breathtaking, while Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's chemistry as Elphaba and Glinda exceeds even the most optimistic expectations. The film's masterful production design, combined with inspired visual effects work and a dynamic approach to beloved musical numbers like “Popular” and “Defying Gravity,” creates a cinematic experience that honors the source material while finding innovative ways to expand its scope for the screen. Though the decision to split the story remains questionable, the first part makes a compelling case for itself as a serious awards contender, particularly in technical categories, costume design, and the lead performances. It may be half a story, but it's a half that soars nearly as high as Elphaba herself in those climactic moments above the Emerald City.
