Wicked Is As Enchanting As It Is Exhausting

As a longtime musical theatre enthusiast who has seen “Wicked” multiple times on stage, I must say that I approached this film with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The original Broadway production holds a special place in my heart, and I was eager to see how director Jon M. Chu would bring the spectacle of the live performance to the screen.

Jon M. Chu has crafted one of the most remarkable musicals in recent memory, taking viewers on a whimsical journey of self-discovery into a realm brimming with wide-eyed wonder, dynamic dance routines, and vibrant, magical bubbles. This movie was titled Step Up 3D, released in 2010. Initially met with skepticism by critics, this dance-off sequel now seems more like a masterpiece as the years go by, showcasing the director’s early prowess for creating unique worlds using movement and atmosphere. These skills also proved beneficial for Chu during his 2021 adaptation of In the Heights, where the gritty musical numbers, seamlessly blending reality with dreaminess, imbued that tribute to Washington Heights’ immigrant community with a raw, poignant charm.

Part Two” might need new songs and storylines to equal the weight of the initial half. Achieving this would be quite an accomplishment, as this version of “Wicked” is massive in every aspect. Fans of the show will probably love it, but it only occasionally recaptures the madcap spirit that characterizes Chu’s finest work and sets the great modern musical films apart.

The film, though longer, meticulously adheres to the play’s storyline. Initially, it portrays Oz rejoicing over the demise of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, who is later acted by Cynthia Erivo. However, contrary to how the original Wizard of Oz ended, Ariana Grande’s Glinda the Good appears from a pink bubble, her supposed adversary, to narrate their past friendship when they were students at Shiz University. At first, Glinda resists sharing this story. The villages in Oz display derogatory posters against the Witch (“She’s watching you,” one reads, featuring a menacing image of Elphaba). Glinda’s narrative aims to clarify why evil exists, but it eventually unveils that Elphaba wasn’t truly wicked; rather, she was a girl who faced rejection due to her green skin, and her conflict with the powers in Oz was more complex than it seemed.

The original novel of “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire, which serves as the basis for the show, was penned shortly after the Gulf War. The author has admitted that Western media reports comparing Saddam Hussein to Adolf Hitler as a rationale for invading Iraq influenced him. Simultaneously, the book delves deeply into Oz’s transformation into fascism under the manipulation of the Wizard. The stage adaptation, debuted in 2003, appears to echo the racial tensions that emerged following 9/11 and the lead-up to the Iraq War, as seen in the line, “The best way to unite people is to give them an enemy.” This new film version may resonate differently. The allegory of “Wicked” is flexible enough to be applied to various sociopolitical contexts. This adaptability isn’t a criticism; many works by George Orwell, who greatly impacted Maguire’s book, have experienced the same treatment over time. Similarly, L. Frank Baum’s original Wizard of Oz novel and the classic 1939 film have inspired numerous interpretations since their inception, including the intriguing theory that Baum intended to criticize early 20th-century American monetary policy. (Yes, really.)

To put it another way, there’s always been a contrast between the deep symbolism hidden within the fairy tale world of Oz and its overly sweet, unrealistic appearance. This is quite understandable because the land beyond the rainbow is just too bizarre and dreamlike to be accepted at first sight – it must hold some kind of deeper meaning. It seems that director Chu hasn’t aimed to make his movie version of Oz feel authentic or meaningful in any way. As the camera soars through the skies, glides over rivers, or rushes through villages, everything feels more like pleasing, insignificant background music rather than a substantial part of the story. Those expecting Chu to bring Oz to life as Peter Jackson did with Middle-earth in his Lord of the Rings trilogy may find themselves feeling let down.

Despite its grandeur and cinematic effects, the film adaptation of Wicked seems not to have expanded much from its original source material. This could be due to the fact that the play is already expansive and visually striking. A significant portion of the production involves speeches, tours, and grand expositions – characters speaking and singing to and with large crowds. While this makes sense in a stage setting, it can become tiresome when transferred to film. Additionally, the population of Oz is portrayed as a homogeneous mass of simple-minded individuals who are easily influenced and fickle. They serve more as a chorus rather than individual characters. The main characters, on the other hand, fail to evoke delicate emotions or subtleties that would make audiences care for them beyond their iconic status.

When there are moments of calm, the performers truly shine. With her eyelashes resembling a pagoda roof and her agile physique, Grande brings genuine comedic form to Glinda’s superficial popularity. She even playfully mocks her exceptional vocal range, casually throwing high notes into casual sentences like “I already have a private su-iiite.” Erivo seems to face the more challenging role. Elphaba undergoes transitions from rejection and sorrow to love and assertiveness, eventually reaching anger. Her performance may not be subtly nuanced, but this is not a character known for intricate emotions; Elphaba’s melancholy is as much a part of the spectacle in Wicked as the flying monkey armies or the swirling images of the Emerald City. One of the film’s most impactful scenes is also its quietest. When she is excluded from a school party because of the black hat Glinda has forced her to wear, Elphaba creates her own rhythmic dance moves without any music. On stage, this is a brief scene, serving as a prelude to the two main characters growing closer. In this film, it becomes the emotional peak, as Chu and Erivo transform Elphaba’s scowl from an emblem of defeat into one of defiance, setting the stage for her eventual transformation.

Admittedly, I would have appreciated “Wicked” more if I were more accustomed to its tunes. However, aside from a few standout moments like the iconic anthem of defiance “Defying Gravity,” the repetitive, synthetic Broadway-style music initially puts me off. Fortunately, the songs don’t rely on my approval. They’ve stood the test of time, as evidenced by nationwide sing-along screenings scheduled for December. And when director Chu delves into the numbers, he creates something extraordinary. The film’s rendition of “What Is This Feeling?”, a number where our protagonists express their initial dislike for each other, transitions seamlessly from late-night squabbles to a lively, school-wide extravaganza that turns everyday sounds into rhythm: clattering silverware, fidgety fingers, stomping feet, moving chairs, and screeching tables. This is undoubtedly the work of the brilliant maverick behind two “Step Up” movies.

Erivo and Grande are undeniably talented vocalists, pouring their heart into each song. Remarkably, their voices were captured live during filming. They can’t help but give their best, as the original cast (Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated these roles, make a few clever appearances) is watching, and there’s simply so much more of Wicked in this adaptation, with many musical numbers significantly enhanced during the transition from stage to screen.

Although the visuals in the “Wicked” movie are grand and imposing, they tend to lack depth and intrigue, focusing more on size rather than inviting us deeper into the story. The spectacle may leave you feeling a sense of wonder, but it doesn’t compare to the immersive experience of being present in a three-dimensional theater with real smoke, cherry pickers, and performers. However, the movie’s themes are repetitively emphasized, sometimes excessively, which can dilute the impact of Elphaba’s character development, particularly as we start to predict the plot twists. This predictability is perhaps the movie’s main flaw. Despite its attempt at reimagining a classic tale, “Wicked” often feels predestined and formulaic, leaving viewers anticipating confirmation rather than unexpected moments. Ultimately, the movie is both captivating and draining.

2024-11-20 00:54

Wicked Is As Enchanting As It Is Exhausting

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