Wicked review: “Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo will have you defying gravity”

For more than 20 years, Wicked has been a staple of Broadway, telling the untold stories of the witches of Oz – and a film adaptation has been spoken of for almost as long. Discussions first began in 2004, with everyone from J. J. Abrams to Ryan Murphy attached at various points. But after watching Jon M. Chu’s (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights) version of this epic story, it feels impossible to imagine any other vision coming close.

Following roughly the first half of the musical, ahead of the release of its second part in 2025, Wicked is a faithful and magical retelling. Situating itself immediately in the lore of The Wizard of Oz, the film begins with the news of the Wicked Witch of the West’s death before it then shifts back in time to tell her story. Most of the action takes place at Shiz University, where the isolated Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo) and the, ahem, popular Galinda (Ariana Grande) first meet and do not see eye-to-eye. Through them, the film follows a searing tale of loneliness and discrimination, and the power of friendship to overcome deep wounds.

While that might seem like a simple, honest core, Chu pastes this onto an epic canvas, making for a completely immersive experience. Deep love has been given to crafting the detailed and vibrant world of Oz, imbuing these characters with visual spectacle and making familiar songs feel as fresh as the first time you’ve heard them. If you’re a fan of Wicked, there’s no more you could ask for.

Sheer ambition

Bearing in mind that the full stage musical is just five minutes longer than part one’s runtime (and that includes an interval), Wicked is by no means a fast-paced ride. Instead, it spends more time extending its scenes, allowing more room for characters to develop.

In fact, before its release, it was widely speculated that the increased runtime may mean extra additional songs, but aside from one small tongue-in-cheek inclusion, the content remains much the same. What it allows room for is comprehensive and visually arresting worldbuilding.

Christopher Nolan frequent collaborator Nathan Crowley’s work as production designer is extraordinary, leaning on physical sets to make Wicked a visual spectacle. Shiz University, Munchkinland, and even the Great Gillikin Forest are all spectacularly rendered, but the most impressive is the Emerald City. Along with Paul Tazewell’s costumes, the visual language of Wicked is clear from the very first frames on screen. This is a unique and spellbinding world that’s unlike anything audiences have seen before.

Star turns

A musical really lives or dies on the performances of its cast, and thankfully Wicked is full of stand-outs. Ariana Grande in particular quickly sheds any qualms about stunt casting as soon as she glides down in a bubble. Her musical talents are almost a given, but it’s a far cry from pop chart-toppers on show here as her operatic Glinda pays homage to those who have come before her in the role, while also placing a very firm stamp on this part as her own. ‘Popular’ in particular is her crowning moment, full of physical comedy from Grande and so much pink, it does justice to one of the show’s best-loved numbers.

Supporting roles are strong too, most notably from Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, full of bravado and fun, as well as a hefty dose of yearning – and fans of Bridgerton will know that no one does yearning like Bailey. His ‘Dancing Through Life’ is a blast but he’s just as powerful in the film’s quieter moments as his chemistry with Elphaba burns. Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum give their all with smaller roles as Madame Morrible and the Wizard, and Ethan Slater is an endearing Boq.

Naturally though, it’s Cynthia Erivo who truly steals the show. Infusing Elphaba with both heartbreaking vulnerability and sheer strength as she navigates between all of the character’s contradictions, makes for a wonderful through-arc as Elphaba finds herself, and finds her fight, as the story progresses.

‘The Wizard and I’ and ‘I’m Not That Girl’ in particular are beautifully choreographed and performed, but it will be ‘Defying Gravity’, which ends the first act and part one here, that will linger long with audiences. Erivo’s raw and shattering vocals nail the emotion of the song and showcase how perfectly her voice blends with Grande’s.

Poignant themes

It’s the chemistry between the pair throughout that makes these performances truly phenomenal. Most poignantly too because it’s through Elphaba and Glinda that the most heartwrenching themes are explored. Wicked is a musical centered around the theme of otherness, and the depths that humanity will go to in order to push it away. Elphaba is an outcast for the color of her skin and is only accepted when Glinda reaches out a hand toward her. But while her story may start leaning towards inclusion, it’s here when the plight of animals shows how rigid society is to change.

Gregory Maguire’s book ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ inspired the musical, and while the film is very loosely linked to that story, many of its heavy themes are in the lifeblood of Wicked. Propaganda, racism, and facism are all underlying the narrative, but it remains a tale of hope.

A great deal of expectation and pressure had been placed on Wicked, with fans waiting decades for it to reach the screen. This makes what Chu has achieved an even greater feat, turning one of the world’s most popular musicals into a cinematic phenomenon. And while Wicked is only one half of this story, it never feels incomplete. As part two will take this story to some weird, wonderful, and heartbreaking places, I cannot wait to see what he and his team accomplish. But at this rate? I don’t think anything can bring them down.

Wicked: Part One is released in theaters on November 22. For more upcoming movies, check out our guide to 2024 movie release dates.