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Wicked

To say that I don’t fit within the confines of the target audience for WICKED would be a bit of an understatement. I’ve never seen the original Broadway show, I was beyond annoyed by the unrelenting marketing for the film prior to its release, and I’d put musicals at the very bottom of my cinematic genre rankings. At the same time, I have an appreciation for movies that transcends all apprehensions, and I try to watch everything as if it is bound to be one of the best films of the year. In the case of WICKED, this turned out to be true.

WICKED is a vibrant, beautiful, towering achievement that will appeal to fans and newcomers alike. Telling the tale of consummate outsider Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and her love/hate relationship with the practically perfect Galinda (Ariana Grande), it is a glorious production packed with stunning visuals, powerful performances, and songs that will never leave your brain.

Elphaba has always felt like a pariah. Her green skin makes her a magnet for fear and hatred, and her outspoken nature certainly doesn’t help matters. She has been discarded by her father, Governor Thropp (Andy Nyman) who is fully cognizant of the fact that the child is not biologically his, and she is fiercely protective of her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode). She also has the uncanny ability to make objects levitate when she gets angry, a skill that alienates herself even further from others.

When Nessarose heads off to school at Shiz University, the Governor forces Elphaba to watch over her and make sure she settles in. But when the short-tempered older sister inadvertently displays her magical disposition, she catches the attention of Dean of Sorcery Studeis Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). Even though Elphaba was not originally enrolled in the school, Madame Morrible takes her under her wing, proclaiming that she will work with Elphaba directly throughout the term. This is much to the chagrin of Galinda who wants nothing more than to be the prized pupil. She is aghast at the fact that not only was she not chosen to work with the headmistress, but that she will now be forced to share her room with an unwelcomed guest.

The chemistry between Erivo and Grande is absolutely wonderful, and the give-and-take between the two enlivens every seen. The musical numbers, which can feel daunting in other productions (yes, yes, I know, we’re discussing a musical, I get it) never once drag or feel out of place. The songs themselves won’t offer many surprises for long time fans of the Broadway production, but the dazzling execution remains a wonder to behold. They are jubilant and stylishly choreographed, made even more impressive by the fact that Erivo and Grande are singing live in every scene. This provided a level of genuine emotion and authenticity that has rarely been seen, and in showstopping sequences like “The Wizard and I” and “Dancing Through Life.”

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Actress (Erivo) and Best Supporting Actress (Grande) WICKED deservedly finds itself within the conversation when analyzing the best films of 2024. Approaching nearly $500 million in box office receipts, it is a musical that not only achieved colossal mainstream success but was beloved by critics and audiences alike as well. It is not a prerequisite to be familiar with the source material, which often seems to be the case with big-screen adaptations of established phenomenon. And, though it is only the first part of two films, it doesn’t have the same overstretched feeling that became a staple in the TWILIGHT and HUNGER GAMES franchises, and leaves it audiences eager for more, rather than merely resigned to another installment.