Part one of the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked” released in theaters on Nov. 22 and grossed over $163 million opening weekend. After years of waiting, I’d say the movie was worth it.
The cast consists of actors, actresses and Broadway stars as leads in the movie, including Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Jonathan Bailey as Prince Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz. The film also featured cameos from Kristin Chenoweth and Indina Menzel, who played Glinda and Elphaba in the Broadway show.
The film follows the developing friendship of Glinda and Elphaba at Shiz University, where they both learn how to become wizards. Elphaba was born with powers and was originally at the university to help her sister Nessarose, played by Marrissa Bode but is convinced to stay and take classes by Madame Morrible, played by Michelle Yeoh. The two originally did not like each other at all, but became friends after having to share a suite with each other and seeing one another at the Ozdust Dance.
In the film, there were many nods to the original “Wizard of Oz” film. Many of Grande’s outfits for the press release and film were inspired by Glinda’s original dress from “Wizard of Oz.” There is a scene where Slater has stiff movements, giving tribute to the Tin Man. Along with this, Fiyero’s dance moves were a tribute to the Scarecrow’s movements. The opening scene features Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man walking on the yellow brick road towards the Emerald City.
To make the film as realistic as possible, director Jon M. Chu planted nine million tulips and had people build the train Elphaba and Glinda take to the Emerald City.
“My goal was to really let the audience step into Oz,” Chu said. “I didn’t just want a fantasy world beyond our reach. I wanted an immersive space where our characters could come to life.”
One of my favorite parts of the movie is the performance of “Defying Gravity.” Although it was one of the last scenes in the movie, the directing of the scene showed how powerful it was. Erivo’s vocals are strong, and I could tell how much she loves and cares for the role of Elphaba.
I have been a huge fan of all of Grande’s roles and music since her Nickelodeon days, and she did not disappoint in this movie. She did a remarkable job playing Glinda, and I can not wait for the second film next year to see more of her acting and character.
I was not expecting Slater to be as good in the movie as he was. I had low expectations since he is known to be Spongebob in “Spongebob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical.” However, after watching the movie, I can’t imagine anyone else playing Boq as well as he did.
The film has a running time of two hours and 50 minutes. The second part of “Wicked” is set to release Nov. 21, 2025.
