First things first – after the immense success and saturation of ‘Barbie’ just last year – with its female-fronted cast and beautiful messaging about the experiences of being a woman, it feels so good to be in the thick of yet another massive film celebrating the strength of women, the joy of friendship, and the goodness that does exist in the world.
The story and music of ‘Wicked’ is timeless. . . And it has been loved by theatre audiences around the world since its debut in 2003. To this day, its themes around nature vs nurture and treating people with kindness resonate fiercely – so the announcement of its conversion into a film (or, two films) was met with huge excitement.
Well, now it’s here. How does it rate? Let’s start off strong and bold: this could be one of the most incredible and stunningly crafted film adaptations of a musical of all time. It’s rich, compelling, teeming with love and joy, and totally delightful.
The love for ‘Wicked’’s source material oozes through every song, every spoken word, and every mind-blowing set piece. It’s clearly a labour of love for not just director Jon M. Chu, but all involved. . .
And die-hard fans are treated to something a little extra special, too.
Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba is complex, and beautiful. She’s hurt by the way the world sees her, but at the same time, she finds the strength within herself each day to push through and persevere – however, the desire to be liked bubbles under the surface like a boiling cauldron. Cynthia communicates this depth of emotion exceptionally, with even the most subtle facial expression, or wink, speaking a thousand words. You truly believe her transformation and growth by the end of Part One.
Ariana Grande’s Glinda, while not as convincingly well-acted as Erivo, is practically everything Glinda should be: fierce, unapologetic, outspoken and in the beginning a little cruel – but underneath it all, in possession of a good heart which is uncovered eventually and given the chance to shine as brightly as Glinda’s signature pink. Ariana is presented with some touching – and sidesplittingly hilarious – moments here, both of which she handles with the utmost care and respect: a sign of her deep love for the musical.
Together, Ariana and Cynthia make a thoroughly charismatic duo: humour and heart embracing. Each of their contributions results in something absolutely remarkable. Getting to watch their friendship bloom and grow feels like a treat as an audience member – scenes like ‘Popular’ and ‘Defying Gravity’ showcase their irrefutable bond not just as Glinda and Elphaba, but their real-life counterparts too.
More evidence of this is Elphaba’s dance scene in the OzDust Ballroom. . . Worth a box of tissues alone – and that’s all I’ll say. Wow.
Jonathan Bailey couldn’t have been more perfectly cast as Fiyero: a man walking a dangerously thin line between painfully insufferable and devastatingly charming. Just the glint in his eye is enough to melt any who catch it, and his physicality, especially in ‘Dancing Through Life’, is dizzying.
Jeff Goldblum’s kookiness is ideal for someone like The Wizard Of Oz: you’re not quite sure if the eccentricities are innocent and genuine, or if he’s covering up something sinister. . . And Goldblum uses this notch in his belt well.
It’s unfortunate to say that by comparison to the rest of the cast, the undeniable acting capabilities of Michelle Yeoh are not in full view in ‘Wicked’. Her Madame Morrible feels strangely out of place, undercooked, and a little awkward. By the end, something shifts and she sinks into the arc of her character nicely enough. . . But it takes her a moment to get there.
Marissa Bode and Ethan Slater bring their own sprinkles of magic to Nessarose and Boq respectively, while Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James are like wickedly evil but delicious cherries on top of a towering cake of talents.
There are simply not enough superlatives for ‘Wicked’ in film form. Something truly special has been crafted here – something this reviewer believes will remain in the psyches of musical theatre fans and newbies alike for years to come.
It’s deeply emotional, rousingly powerful and genuinely hilarious. . . And this is only the beginning.
★★★★☆ 1/2.
