To be completely transparent, I have never experienced a stage presentation of the acclaimed and celebratory musical play that has taken the world by storm. I have heard so much about the original stage play, which fueled my excitement and anticipation for a cinematic treatment. That said, I went into this film with much zeal but with some trepidation, thinking it would not live up to the legend in my mind. The movie version of Wicked is a phenomenal movie featuring incredible visuals and rousing musical numbers that have left me highly anticipating its second installment.
Set in the magical land of Oz, Wicked is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz that tells the backstory of the Wicked Witches and the Good Witch Glinda. Though the intro to the film recalls the events of the original story, it delves into how some of those characters arrived at that moment. Glinda (Ariana Grande), the Good Witch of the North, tells their story. She begins when, as a young woman named Galinda in Oz, she enrolls in Shiz University and how she encounters Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), the woman who would eventually become the Wicked Witch of the West. Though the two initially have their pronounced differences, they ultimately become dear friends and classmates. Things change after Elphaba gets invited to the Emerald City, where she will meet the magical Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum).
I was not sure what to expect from this movie. Some of the trailers obviously featured CGI and poorly polished effects, but that certainly has changed for the finished product. The look of the film is truly magical and dreamlike, as the Land of Oz should be. There is so much that happens in the movie that I cannot visually realize how the theater crews pulled off these sequences on the stage. That aspect should indicate that director Jon M. Chu and his team have determined to set their movie apart from any stage productions that inspired them.
Besides the visuals, the story and character development are a rather intriguing and riveting experience. The movie subverts the ideas of good and evil in so many wonderful ways that challenge what the original story of The Wizard of Oz offers. The audience gets a taste of how Elphaba, the destined to be Wicked Witch of the West, becomes the iconic villain of classic mythology and cinema. It is a remarkable story told through exciting and emotional musical numbers and skillful storytelling expertly executed by the cast and crew.
I was impressed with both the acting and singing by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who are exceptional as Elphaba and Galinda. Both actors have a passionately firm grasp of their characters and realize them in some exciting and entertaining ways. The movie also features some outstanding turns by Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum, who perform admirably.
Though I have never witnessed a stage production of Wicked, I truly believe that the musical’s fans will love this cinematic treatment. Those like me, who have never watched the play, are sure to marvel at this movie’s magic and will surely be curious how a stage production can pull all this off as wonderfully.