The first part of Wicked was a pleasant surprise for me as someone who hasn’t seen the Broadway version and is generally not all that familiar (nor enthused) about the Wizard of Oz story. Jon M. Chu did an outstanding job in creating a wholly enjoyable movie, but still, I didn’t think the tale of unlikely friendship between Elphaba and Glinda deserved a 5-hour treatment. Breaking into two parts feels like a studio cash grab, but well, I’m a completist, so I came into Wicked: For Good hoping for a satisfying conclusion to the Oz-ian saga.

At the end of the first part, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) takes off on a magical broomstick into the Western skies after she discovers the Wizard’s corruption and his oppression of the animals. Her rendition of “Defying Gravity” is absolutely electrifying, with Glinda (Ariana Grande) watching her fly away. In the second part, we find Elphaba in exile, advocating for animal rights, while Glinda has transformed into the public figure of “Glinda the Good” and willingly becomes the spokesperson for the oppressive Oz regime.

The narrative takes a noticeably darker turn as Elphaba is vilified by the brainwashed citizens of Oz. Although a darker narrative is expected, the escalating conflict somehow doesn’t strike a chord with me; no goosebumps or that sense of awe that I felt watching the first part. One aspect that still stands out is Erivo’s performance; her vocal talent is not only remarkable, but she also brings a gravitas that imparts the necessary emotional depth to Elphaba. Grande showcases more of her dramatic abilities in this part, yet I find myself missing her comedic flair, which was such a delight in the first part.

Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero is appropriately fiery in terms of sex appeal. He’s moved on from ‘dancing through life’ to embracing his royal responsibilities as Captain of the Wizard’s Guard and soon-to-be Glinda’s husband. The love triangle element feels a bit cliché, but honestly, I was too mesmerized to care when Fiyero was casting those seductive glances. I absolutely concur that he’s the reigning People’s Sexiest Man Alive, boy, I’m still thinking about the way he takes off his suspenders [fan self]. He even made the typically stern Elphaba melt, ‘for the first time…I feel wicked,’ Oh la la!

It’s clear that the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Horrible Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) are the primary antagonists who propagate falsehoods and create a made-up foe (the sentient animals) to be the common enemy. Despite being a power-hungry charlatan and dictator, it’s difficult not to feel a bit of sympathy, even fondness, for the Wizard, largely due to Jeff Goldblum’s fun performance. He’s one of those actors who tends to perform similarly across all his films, yet you don’t mind because he’s so watchable. His musical performance is indeed wonderful, as the 73-year-old displays his slippery charisma with such finesse.

Yeoh, on the other hand, doesn’t get to do much this time around, and Morrible feels very one-dimensional. But still, she fares better than Ethan Slater as Boq and Marissa Bode as Nessa; their narrative barely makes a dent, which diminishes the effect of their heartbreaking conclusion.

On a technical level, Nathan Crowley‘s fantastic production design, Paul Tazewell‘s stunning costume creations, Alice Brooks‘ cinematography, along with the makeup and visual effects, are all of exceptional quality, matching the ambition and standard set by the first film. Chu has certainly executed Part II brilliantly, yet it is the absence of emotional depth that prevents this conclusion from reaching its full potential.

The first part has just as many CGI effects as this one, but somehow I noticed them more in the second part. It’s also distracting that the color grading seems off at times, and certain scenes are poorly lit, some are too dim to see things clearly. There are too many aerial sequences, but not enough effort is made to anchor the performances, especially some of the supporting cast. Additionally, I expected the songs to be as good as the first; alas, the musical numbers are not as memorable. Defying Gravity remains my favorite song of the entire saga.

From what I’ve gathered regarding the stage musical adaptation, Act II is often considered the less impressive segment. However, one hopes that Chu will rise to the challenge and take advantage of the opportunity to present Part II with improved pacing that validates the decision to divide the narrative into two parts. Overall, Wicked: For Good has some strong performances and stunning production design, but not quite the masterpiece of Part I. I walked out of the theater thinking that the whole story would have been better off as just one movie.

What are your thoughts on Wicked: For Good? Do you like it more or less than the first part?

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