It’s good. It’s too long. Wicked has always been messy.
Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel followed L. Frank Baum’s Witch of the West. She grew from a lonely child into a self-righteous activist. The 2003 musical sanded off her rough edges. Book Elphaba grew violent. Stage Elphaba never did anything truly wicked. Now Jon Chu has expanded the musical’s 90-minute first act into a 160 minute film. I wondered what he could possibly be adding to fill out the run time. The answer is a lot of dead air.
We don’t just see the grandeur of Shiz University. We follow the students onto a boat, across the lake, up the steps, and into the courtyard. Elphaba doesn’t just sing. She pauses. Gazes into the middle distance. Makes up her mind to continue singing. Sings a verse flawlessly. Then pauses again. Two characters don’t share a dance until they’ve silently stared at each other for 8 minutes with tears welling in their eyes. It’s overindulgent.
The superfans won’t mind. The cast is lovely. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are fantastic as the outcast Elphaba and queen bee Galinda. They put their own stamp on roles that have been played by many divas. (And are spared the vocal damage of singing it 8 shows a week.) Jonathan Bailey provides pansexual magnetism as their callow love interest. Jeff Goldblum does his reliable schtick. Michelle Yeoh underplays her starchy sorceress. That choice will annoy some. I found it suits the world of the film.
The elaborate costumes and practical sets are impressive. Some MGM iconography is present but the film creates its own look. The color palette is faded pastel when it could have been vibrant technicolor. This has proven polarizing. I was able to adjust.
The politics are, sadly, still timely. Oz’s privileged few are happy to overlook the country’s descent into fascism. While Elphaba’s college adventures bring to mind Harry Potter, Carrie and Mean Girls, the encroaching darkness evokes Cabaret. Part two will have to shape the gloomy, choppy second act into something coherent. I doubt it will prove as popular as the current offering. If you want to see Elphaba’s infamous war cry as the end of tale, you’ll be more than satisfied.
I would have cut the duller songs and made it one film. But what do I know?
You can find more of my reviews on The Avocado, Letterboxd and Serializd. My podcast, Rainbow Colored Glasses, can be found here.