Here’s a quick analogy to take you back to your test-taking days. ‘Sleeping Beauty’ is to ‘Maleficent’ as ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is to…
If you’ve read my previous movie reviews (or if you’re well versed in theater), that wasn’t a hard one to guess. I’m talking about Wicked, the new movie based on the Broadway musical of the same name (which is incidentally based on a novel written in 1995 called “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire).
If you’ve read my movie reviews, you also know I’m a pretty tough critic. So if you’re looking for the TL;DR version of my Wicked movie review, here it is. Go see it. It’s an amazing showcase of talent from the cast to the crew. But grab an extra large bucket of buttered popcorn because you’re gonna be there a while. Here’s what to expect.
The History of ‘Wicked’
Wicked is a reimagining of the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, who most of Gen X knows as the green-faced, bicycle/broom-riding, I’ll get you my dearie villain from the once-a-year epic, The Wizard of Oz. Let’s be honest. Margaret Hamilton’s version of the Wicked Witch of the West was the stuff of nightmares. Even when she was hawking Maxwell House coffee, I couldn’t forget the dark forces emanating from her.
This wicked witch, much like the revisited character in the movie Maleficent, is a very different version. It’s a reimagining of this wicked witch, now given the name of Elphaba (ELL-fuh-buh), and how she got to be who we know from The Wizard of Oz.
Let me start by saying that I went into this movie cold. I didn’t really know the story, other than it was a bit of an origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West, and was a smashing success on Broadway with Idina Menzel playing Elphaba and Kristen Chenoweth as her frenemy, Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.
I also didn’t know about much of the controversy surrounding the movie, except for something about a movie poster. Honestly, it was better that way. The only personal biases that I had going in were that I loved Cynthia Erivo in The Outsider (what can I say, I’m a huge Stephen King fan) and I was not crazy excited about watching a pop princess on the screen for several hours. But I’m always prepared to set my biases aside in the name of a good movie.
As I sat with the rest of the preview crowd, I mentioned that I didn’t even really know the story. A fellow theater goer told me that she knew the story quite well as she had seen it on Broadway but had loved going in cold when she saw it and suggested I do the same. All of this to say, whether you know the story or not, you can simply enter and enjoy.
The Movie Version of ‘Wicked’
Running at 2 hours and 55 minutes (it’s a long one so consider that when taking the kids), make sure you empty your bladders before sitting down for the performance. Yes, that’s what it is – a performance. I didn’t feel like I watched a movie. I felt like I just enjoyed a Broadway show. In fact, I didn’t even check my watch until two hours in.
The story starts with the narrative we all know from The Wizard of Oz. The Wicked Witch of the West has melted after an unexpected encounter with a bucket of water. Munchkinland (and all of Oz) is celebrating because ding, dong, the witch is dead. Glinda appears in her magic bubble confirming that indeed, life is good again because the witch is dead. But just as she prepares to float away, a munchkin asks her, “weren’t you once friends with the wicked witch?”
Thus begins the origin story of Elphaba and her sometime friendship with Glinda. We learn about her parents and her childhood that made her not evil, but insecure, unhappy, and generally feeling unloved. In a Harry Potter type underdog story, she enrolls in Shiz University, a school where knowledge meets magic.
It’s there that she starts her complicated relationship with Glinda, learns to harness her powers, and generally accepts the fact that she’s green. Forgot to mention that. Green is quite an unusual color in this realm and one that casts her as a misfit from day one. No explanation is given as to why she’s green but more on that in a bit.
We follow her journey from Shiz University (which is the setting for most of the film) to actually meeting the Wizard of Oz, with amazing songs, dances, sets, and costumes along the way. It is in the Emerald City that Elphaba learns, much like Dorothy did, that not everything is as it seems. And she’s faced with a multitude of moral and ethical challenges.
So how did we get from this young witch grappling with her own powers to a misunderstood but powerful witch melting in her own castle? That’s the question that still remains open. And I might have expected that when the filmed opened with Wicked, Part I on screen. Success must have already been in the books as it’s been confirmed as two part story, with the second installment expected on November 26, 2025. And I’m definitely here for part II.
The Cast of ‘Wicked’
Whether you love them or not, or are new to the cast, this movie is equally shouldered by the amazing performances of Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (Glinda). Both are extremely talented singers and also very gifted actresses.
Erivo is able to convincingly play a young schoolgirl, making us feel her trepidation and vulnerability in every scene. And Grande is this generation’s Elle Woods. A shallow, vacuous blonde who gives a delightfully good comedic performance while still showing emotional depth. Color me surprised – whether that’s pink or green!
The supporting cast makes this a wonderful ensemble including Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, the voice of Peter Dinklage, Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live), and new cast members I haven’t seen before. Every performance was spot on. Expect to see some Oscar nominations or Golden Globes at the very least.
Why You’ll Love ‘Wicked’ (especially if you love musical theater)
One of my biggest complaints about modern day cinema is the blurred lines between grand moviemaking with elaborate sets, costumes, and special effects, and the world of CGI used to bring our dreams to life.
While CGI has been a huge advancement for movies that might not otherwise get made, Wicked avoided the trap of becoming too fantastical that the audience didn’t feel grounded enough to enjoy the performance. As an example, Cynthia Erivo opted NOT to have her skin colorized as an after effect but chose to sit for make up for anywhere from 2.5 to 4.5 hours per shoot.
Her choice was about the performance – she wanted to be able to look down and see her green hands. She wanted her castmates to see and react to her green skin. The authenticity paid off in more ways than one. Every character had depth, in a show that could have been reduced to caricatures.
As a result, at the conclusion of the nearly three hour run time, I struggled to avoid clapping for the performance. I felt like we (me and the audience) had just enjoyed an experience even more immersive than what Broadway goers did. It was a visually delightful film that made us feel like we were part of Oz. And if you’re a Broadway fan (or even snob), don’t worry. There’s a little surprise in the Emerald City just for you.
This is an epic movie on a grand scale. Outstanding performances, amazing vocals, captivating costumes, sets that are fantastical yet grounded in reality, and many many nods to one of my absolute childhood favorites, The Wizard of Oz. With a rating of PG, this is a wonderful family film for the holiday season as long as you’re prepared for the length.
