As a seasoned movie buff who has seen more films than I can count and spent countless hours dissecting their intricacies, let me tell you that “Wicked” is a peculiar creature. It’s like a beautiful swan with wings of feathers made from both silk and straw, soaring gracefully for a while but then faltering under the weight of its own ambition.
Sure thing! “Wicked” is the first part of a two-film adaptation based on the Broadway musical with the same name. This musical was inspired by Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, which itself was based on the classic “Oz” book series that formed the basis for the popular 1939 film musical, “The Wizard of Oz,” directed by Victor Fleming.
The film “Wicked,” boasting a $150 million budget and directed by Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”), is a fantasy musical. The screenplay was penned by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, who crafted an imaginative tale set in the Land of Oz that carries subtle social commentary. “Wicked” can be divided into two parts: the first half is light-hearted, filled with humor, while the second half becomes more adventurous but tends to move slowly, making the film’s 160-minute duration noticeable. The visuals in the movie are a combination of intricate physical sets and digital effects that often fail to impress as intended.
The film starts with residents of Munchkinland hearing that the Wicked Witch of the West has perished. Overjoyed, they celebrate, and Glinda the Good (portrayed by Ariana Grande) joins in the festivities. Before leaving, a curious young girl queries if it’s true that Glinda was once friends with the deceased witch. In response, she shares the origin tale of Elphaba Thropp, who would later become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, to both the Munchkins and us viewers.
We’re whisked away to an earlier period, where we meet Elphaba Thropp, played by Cynthia Erivo. Born with green skin and latent magical abilities that are kept in check, Elphaba has endured a difficult life filled with scorn and solitude. On the day of orientation, she visits Shiz University (not to be confused with the dean being Snoop Dogg) to drop off her wheelchair-bound younger sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode). At the same time, Galinda Upland (Grande), a well-liked and privileged girl, makes her entrance. We soon discover that she is oblivious to her own advantages.
Following an impromptu demonstration of Elphaba’s magical abilities causing quite a stir on campus, the Dean of Magic Education, Madam Morrible (played somewhat inappropriately by Michelle Yeoh), consents to provide Elphaba with private tutoring. This arrangement displeases Galinda greatly, as she had harbored aspirations to be her mentor. Initially, Galinda’s feelings of jealousy and snobbery drive her to belittle Elphaba. However, an act of unanticipated kindness from Elphaba shifts Galinda’s perspective, and the two form an unlikely friendship despite their starkly contrasting characters.
The entire university setting in this film is exceptionally funny, with Grande’s impeccable comedic timing delivering many of the movie’s best laughs. She convincingly portrays Galinda’s clueless side, serving as an excellent target for Erivo’s sharp wit. Although the larger musical numbers are more attention-grabbing, it’s the comedic vibe that powers through the first half. Moreover, while a few songs are somewhat memorable, it was the clever humor that left me pleasantly surprised.
In the movie, several additional characters are introduced, but none of them are developed sufficiently to make a strong impact. One character is Pfannee, portrayed by Bowen Yang, who is Galinda’s college friend with an overly adoring demeanor. Another character is Boq Woodsman, played by Ethan Slater, who is a Munchkin smitten with Galinda. Dr. Dillamond, voiced by Peter Dinklage, is a talking goat who instructs history and leads a secret society advocating for animal rights. Lastly, there’s Fiyero Tigelaar, a handsome prince from Winkie Country, portrayed by Jonathan Bailey.
In the film, events progress when Elphaba receives a tantalizing invitation to visit The Emerald City, where she’ll encounter the captivating Jeff Goldblum portraying The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Unwilling to let her anxious companion venture alone, Glinda (formerly known as Galinda, for an amusing twist) boards the train with Elphaba and they embark on a journey that takes an unanticipated turn. This is also where the humor fades, the special effects become less polished, and the narrative slows down slightly, eventually reaching its thrilling climax.
As a devoted admirer, I’ve got to confess that while I poured my heart and hard-earned cash into “Wicked,” it didn’t quite live up to its intended brilliance. It’s a production that’s unpredictably erratic, with moments of early humor but never fully taking flight as either a captivating musical or an epic fantasy tale. The narrative itself is the main culprit, suffering from uneven pacing, inadequately developed plot threads, and messages that are sometimes overbearing (and at times, downright condescending). Regrettably, even the subpar visuals and grandiose musical numbers couldn’t save it from falling short of my expectations.
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2024-12-14 18:56