Wicked Review: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande do indeed defy gravity in Jon M. Chu’s outstanding adaptation

Jon M. Chu‘s directing, two incredible performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande armed with one of the best songbooks in musical theater usher Wicked into the Best Picture race.

Wicked Overview and Star Rating

Wicked is officially tied with Dune: Part Two as my favorite 2024 film.

Erivo and Grande are magic together as Elphaba and Glinda. Both are, without question, incredible vocalists, but the surprise is how stirring their performances are during the non-singing portions of the film. Erivo shines in showing Elphaba as the outcast who slowly grows into her power. Grande delivers one of the year’s best performances in Wicked. She stands out with incredible comedic chops as the narcissistic, used to having everything handed to her, Glinda.

Wicked Part 1 only covers the 1st Act of the musical. The story chronicles Glinda and Elphaba’s experience as roommates at Shiz University. They start as enemies. However, they gradually develop a friendship after Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose, asks Elphaba to be kinder to Glinda. Glinda sends a guy she’s not interested into Nessarose to ask her to dance. Elphaba’s power draws the attention of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). She’s summoned to meet the wizard in Emerald City and takes Glinda with her on an adventure that will change them for good.

At 2 hours and 45 minutes, Wicked Part 1 is as long as the musical itself. However, I barely noticed the film’s length thanks to the incredible production design, Chu’s energetic directing and Alice Brooks‘ stunning cinematography. The mostly practical production design and Chu’s eye for creating impressive musical sequences for the silver screen are wondrous.

The only issue in Wicked Part 1 is the love triangle between Elphaba, Fiyero, and Glinda doesn’t entirely take flight.

Overall, Wicked is a visually gorgeous and wonderfully acted film that ends on such a powerful note that audiences will have no problem continuing the adventure in part two. Here’s a closer look at Wicked‘s greatest hits.

No one Mourns the Wicked in Oz

Wicked opens with a lengthy cold open or pre-chorus, if you prefer, featuring Glinda pronouncing the death of the Wicked Witch. A girl asks Glinda how wickedness happens and Glinda reveals Elphaba’s rough upbringing.

Elphaba is born with green skin. Her father, Governor Thropp, refuses to take her into his home, so Dulcibear, the family’s nanny and a talking bear, takes Elphaba in. Elphaba’s mom gets pregnant again, but out of revulsion for his firstborn, he takes extreme measures to make sure his 2nd child arrives normal. However, his approach ends up making Nessarose a paraplegic and killing their mother in the process.

Thropp shows love and affection for Nessarose but only disdain for Elphaba. On their visit to Shiz, it’s revealed Nessarose will be attending, not Elphaba, but out of worry for Nessarose, Thropp orders Elphaba to stay and keep Nessarose safe.

Elphaba and Glinda

There are plenty of differences between the new roommates. Glinda demands attention while Elphaba tries to avoid it. Elphaba is powerful, while Glinda is not, which causes Glinda to be jealous.

One thing binds them together, and that is the audience they attract. Glinda exudes an energy that demands the spotlight always be on her. If there’s a cute, new boy like Fiyero, she must make a grand introduction. However, the brilliance in the characterization of Glinda and in how Grande plays the role is that she’s also pretty perceptive of others; she is just not self-perceptive. She’s the only student who realizes Elphaba is the one who unleashes a powerful spell. Glinda also recognizes Elphaba only pretends not to care, but she does. Thankfully, for comedic sake, her narcissism always overcomes her perception.

Elphaba does everything she can to avoid causing a scene. She’s also always on the defensive. However, bottling things up causes the talent Elphaba tries to suppress and hide to burst. As Elphaba grows into her power, her confidence grows and word of it reaches the wizard.

There’s no denying they cause a stir in any room together, making them a powerhouse team capable of defying gravity.

Saving the Animals

Wicked is a story about prejudice and how people can look down on or dismiss you based on how you look. In addition to the awful discrimination Elphaba faces, there’s another sect of beings who also live in fear: the animals.

Oz is a place with talking animals, and Elphaba profoundly cares for them. The woman who raised her is a talking bear, and her favorite professor at Shiz is Doctor Dillamond (Peter Dinklage), a talking goat.

There’s a growing air of discrimination against animals. A movement towards removing their ability to speak is gaining steam throughout Oz. This initiative takes on an ugly form at Shiz. First, an anonymous threat is made against Dillamond, and then later, he’s forcibly removed from the school.

These darker storylines give Wicked emotional weight.

Wicked Final Thoughts

Chu’s adaptation of Wicked is stunning. Terrific songs, a complex protagonist in Elphaba, and an enchanting story that makes OZ as dangerous as it is enchanting allow the film to soar. Wicked Part Two can’t come soon enough.