Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?
It’s a question of the ages, one that has endured the Broadway debut of Stephen Schwartz’s Wicked in 2003. For the uninitiated, Wicked is the internationally beloved retelling of the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. This defiant musical piece lifts from Gregory Maguire’s namesake novel, in which Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West is portrayed as the misunderstood protagonist Elphaba. The story explores her unlikely friendship with Glinda the Good Witch of the North during their schooling at Shiz University.
Twenty-one years after Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth graced Broadway with its maiden production, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo take up the mantle as director Jon M. Chu brings Wicked to the silver screen. Given its celebrated reputation, fans feared that it may fail to live up to the staged musical’s legacy. Though as Glinda would describe it, this film has been clan-destinedly studded with stars who have held space for the characters and their narratives for years.
So heed the good news: Wicked (2024) is not to be grieved, for the film magically reintroduces the wonderful world of Oz once more.
Oz unlimited
Coming from a lineage of successful iterations, the bar for Wicked’s film adaptation soared sky-high. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long for fans to be alleviated of those worries. Easter eggs that honor the musical’s history are generously sprinkled throughout the set design, cinematography, and score.
Most notably, the film opens with a title card in the same typeface as The Wizard of Oz. Eagle-eyed watchers might also pick up on Elphaba’s silhouetting hat as a clear nod to the original staging of the opening track No One Mourns the Wicked. Additionally, Somewhere Over the Rainbow from the timeless film is subtly interwoven into the score of pivotal scenes: first as the munchkin children run to celebrate the witch’s passing, and later as Elphaba dashes to the edge of the cliff in The Wizard and I.
The film also does not skimp on saturating the colorful world of Oz with its impressive set production and design. Wicked strikes a tasteful balance of physical staging and computer generated imagery, from the sprawling tulip fields of Munchkinland, to the dizzying heights of the Emerald City, and the twisting vines that overrun the weathered Shiz University. This attention to detail extends to the costumes and props that adorned the entire cast, testamentified by Glinda’s beautifully replicated wand and Nessarose’s bejeweled tornado heels.
Wicked’s choreography is nothing to scoff at, either. The film pays tribute to its Broadway predecessor in numbers such as One Short Day and brings its personal modern flare to others like What Is This Feeling? However, the film could have benefitted from more scenes that spotlight the actors’ footwork and full body routines, a common shortcoming in musical adaptations. Though a minor detail, this would have amplified each song number and further showcased the talent of the entire cast.
Unadulterated labor of love
A musical known to enchant first-time onlookers with stellar performances, the star-studded cast of Wicked’s film adaptation grants movie-goers the same magnetic experience. Grande’s unadulterated embodiment of Galinda—which by the way, the Guh is silent—makes it increasingly clear that the role is second nature for the popstar. Her honest portrayal of the popular girl in pink, with her playfully innocent confidence, turns every performative act of kindness into comedic gold.
Erivo, Wicked’s Elphaba who is an Oscar away from EGOT status, proves she is the perfect choice to lead the yearned-for adaptation. Erivo touches on the vulnerability of Elphaba like no actress has done before as her intersecting femininity, queerness, and race transcend the character’s arch. As the vilified witch belts out The Wizard and I, Erivo’s vocals beautifully amplify Elphaba’s inner intentions, unleashing her fiery compassion from the confines of her verdigris skin.
Beyond their individual heights, it is Erivo and Grande together that defies gravity. The pivotal scene of Erivo and Grande dancing amid a room full of watchful eyes is so magnificently raw that fans are sure of its cemented legacy as an unforgettable piece of cinema.
Besides the iconic duo, Jonathan Bailey as Prince Fiyero Tigelaar is yet another astounding charm. The Bridgerton limited series actor stuns the audience with his masterful riffs and agility in his performance of Dancing Through Life. Even more of a wondrous surprise is the casting of Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible. The multi-awarded Malaysian actress more than makes up for what she lacks in vocals with her exquisite depiction of a woman in power. It is how Yeoh shapes her speech and substantiates her subtle expressions that affirm her ownership of the role.
Deserving of the emerald spotlight as well is Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz. The veteran actor’s portrayal of the cunning Wizard is the perfect balance of utter unseriousness and paltry villainousness. Ethan Slater also earns his flowers for his role as Boq Woodsman. The Spongebob Squarepants musical lead truly has the visual and musical deftness to play the hopelessly Galinda-struck munchkin.
What awaits in the western sky
As the film adaptation nears its end, the profoundifically complicated friendship of Elphaba and Glinda comes to an ultimatum with Defying Gravity. This ever-adored piece was well translated into the film as it perfectly hints at their contrasting choices moving forward.
As Elphaba soars to the sky, the black cape Glinda wraps around her becomes a powerful symbol of the pink-padded prima donna’s love and support for her friend, who had accepted a different fate. The fluttering cloth represents Elphaba’s reclamation of her own power, which was beautifully matched by both Erivo and Grande’s melding vocals and expressions, making the scene feel all the more like a poignant goodbye.
As Elphaba trod a path of resistance, Wicked’s message becomes increasingly clear. For so long as oppressive forces of power incantate propagandas, this rotten system topples over the marginalized and vilified Elphabas of society, reducing them to mere minorities. Such tragic realities are mirrored by Madam Morrible’s conditioning and the Wizard’s exploitation of the uncannily green witch. While some choose not to grovel in submission, others are privileged enough to stay behind, much like how Glinda seamlessly fits in as the image of a “good witch.”
Packaged in a colorful visual feast, the film succinctly portrays moral gambles and social realities that feel relevant today. Fans and newcomers can look forward to the 2025 sequel Wicked: Part Two, where the complex relationship between Elphaba and Glinda will surely deepen as they navigate the consequences of their choices amid the political and social unrest in Oz.
And as the screen cuts to black, there is nothing to loathe. Chu’s Wicked truly is one of the most beautiful stage-to-screen adaptations, honoring both the renowned Broadway musical and the magical world of Oz. The film’s three year’s worth of production to the big screen was worth the wait. And if anything, the maiden film ultimately set the tone—and expectations—as to where the yellow brick road leads for Wicked: Part Two.
