As you’ve likely seen on social media, it’s that time again in Hollywood where two blockbuster juggernauts are competing at the box office. Last year we got Barbenheimer, and this year we got dueling Roman bloodshed and Broadway songs with GLICKED (check out my review of Gladiator II). I have to preface my review by saying that I haven’t seen the Broadway version and I’ve just recently seen The Wizard of Oz (1939) for the first time in preparation for this film. Honestly, I hadn’t been so caught up in Wicked fever that I didn’t even realize this was just Part I!

The movie kicks off with the people of Oz throwing a party to celebrate the Wicked Witch of the West’s demise. While everyone is in a festive mood, Glinda tries to show some compassion. When someone directly asks her if she and the witch were ever friends, she doesn’t deny it. About 15 minutes in, the title card pops up, and then we dive into a long flashback that explores the lives of Glinda and the Witch when they meet at Shiz University.

It’s not easy being green, a famous green-skinned character Kermit the Frog once sang. Well, Elphaba certainly can relate to that. Her parents were aghast when she was born with green skin and she was pretty much an outcast up until her adult life. Cynthia Erivo brings a sense of dignity and poignancy as Elphaba that I immediately gravitate towards. When Elphaba drops off her wheelchair-bound sister Nessa (Marissa Bode), their dad (Adam James) forces her to stay in the school to protect Nessa.

That’s when she encounters Glinda when she still goes by Galinda (Ariana Grande), the quintessential popular girl who immediately has an entourage in the form of ShenShen (Bronwyn James) and Pfannee (Bowen Yang). Galinda makes an obtuse remark that she could offer to help Elphaba with her ‘problems’ of being green. She’s the type of person who means well but really has no idea how rude her actions come off. Seeing polar opposites play off each other is always fun to watch, that’s why buddy cop comedies and opposite-attract rom-coms are so popular.

Tackling Wicked is quite a tall order even for someone who has directed a movie musical before, but Jon M. Chu is up to this task. After all, his feature directing debut Step Up 2: The Streets involves heavy song and dance numbers. I’m a big fan of Crazy Rich Asians and I was impressed with In The Heights, and I can confidently say Chu reached new heights with vivid cinematic reimagining of the two iconic characters from the original film. I expected spellbinding, colorful spectacles, and the movie absolutely delivers, but thankfully Chu and screenwriters Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox deliver a captivating story with so much heart.

Both Erivo and Grande perfectly embody their characters, I really can’t imagine anyone else playing these roles. While I knew Erivo as a serious thespian with golden pipes, I didn’t realize that pop star Grande could be so hilarious!! I’ve seen her impersonations in various interviews and her comedic performances on SNL, but her comic timing is incredible! Her hair toss alone had me in stitches, it becomes a running gag throughout the movie. Her gleefully vain and self-absorbed Galinda reminds me of Reese Witherspoon’s Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, so if they ever reboot that franchise, they should definitely get Grande!

The upside of not having seen the stage production is all the songs are new to me, so they’re fresh and unspoiled. Erivo’s first big musical number, The Wizard and I is lovely and heartfelt. It’s the first time Elphaba feels seen after headmistress Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) offers to teach her personally. The school scenes give me Harry Potter meets Clueless + Mean Girls vibes, with the rivalry between Elphaba and Galinda told via song and dance. The ‘loathing’ song in their room is pretty fun and whimsical, every single number showcases imaginative choreography by Christopher Scott, stunning production design by Nathan Crowley, and intricate costumes by Paul Tazewell.

I expect great music in a musical and I’m glad the movie delivers, thanks to composers John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the music & lyrics for the Broadway musical. I enjoy all the numbers featuring Erivo and Grande, they’re not just amazing singers; their wonderful chemistry brings to life a touching journey through friendship, prejudice, and finding oneself. Bridgerton’s breakout star Jonathan Bailey is quite the scene stealer as Oz’s most eligible bachelor Fiyero his zesty, swoon-worthy rendition of Dancing Through Life. Bailey oozes so much sex appeal, he could have chemistry with even a pillar!

I particularly love the scene in the woods with Fiyero and Elphaba. Elphaba sings the ultimate ‘unrequited love song’ I’m Not That Girl with a hint of longing that gets me teary-eyed. Who hasn’t felt that way about someone we’re crushing on and how we sometimes feel unworthy to be loved? Another emotionally charged scene happens in the ballroom scene, which is also the first time we see Elphaba don the witch hat. Galinda’s gesture of friendship in the dance sequence is genuinely stirring, and Chu allows the emotion of the scene to wash over us, keeping the background free of music so we can fully immerse ourselves.

The scene in Emerald City feels overly busy, I for one can do without that entire sequence after they hop off the Unlimited One train. Jeff Goldblum is playing his quirky self as the Wizard, but I was more in awe of the intricate set pieces, especially the miniature Oz and the design of the Grimmerie, the magical book of spells. As an homage to the original film, we get the origin story of the yellow brick road and those flying monkeys. Hollywood’s fascination with misunderstood villains is still alive and kicking, but I feel that Elphaba would strike a chord with modern viewers. She challenges societal norms and advocates for those marginalized by society. The scenes with the goat history professor Dr. Dillamond, voiced by Peter Dinklage, showcase her dedication to activism and fighting for what she believes in.

The duet “Defying Gravity” is an electrifying performance that highlights the incredible voices of Erivo and Grande, pushing the story to its peak. Alas, this isn’t the end of the tale as Wicked Part 2 drops next November 2025. Apparently, Universal Studios thinks the story is so rich that it deserves a whopping five hours on screen [eye-roll]. Honestly, it feels more like a cash grab than anything else.

That said, I think Chu knocked it out of the park with Part I. As someone who hasn’t seen the Broadway musical, I find it thoroughly enjoyable and I don’t even mind seeing it again on streaming.

What are your thoughts on Wicked? Have you seen the Broadway musical and/or this movie adaptation?

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