Wicked: Part I (2024)

By: Mike Ward on Thursday, November 21

PG Running Time: 160 mins

SHOULD I SEE IT?

YES

  • Fear not Wicked fans - Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande (billed here as Ariana Grande-Butera) are nearly perfect in assuming the roles of Elphaba and Galinda/Glinda, made famous on Broadway by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.

  • From a technical standpoint, the film is exceptional from its production design to costumes to its sound design and balancing of dialogue, song, and musical score.

  • Bottom line: If you are at all a fan of Wicked on stage, you are absolutely going to be a fan of Jon M. Chu’s cinematic adaptation.

NO

  • At 160 minutes, nearly an hour longer than the first Act of the stage production, Wicked: Part I feels like it needs to be tightened up a bit.

  • Those unfamiliar with Wicked, may get lost a bit in the story being told and certain subplots that are glossed over or bypassed to get to something else.

  • You refuse to watch musicals. You know, because the singing. I bet you don’t listen to music either then. Because, I mean, what’s worse than people who tells stories with…singing, amirite?


OUR REVIEW

After about five minutes or so of being on screen, it becomes clear that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera were electrifying choices to play the witches Elphaba and Galinda in the long-anticipated theatrical adaptation of Wicked. For all the consternation through the years of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth setting an impossible bar to reach, from their iconic Broadway performances and legendary voices on the beloved soundtrack album, Erivo’s expressive eyes and booming singing voice, coupled with Grande-Butera’s sardonic wit and vocal prowess prove to be an irresistible combination.

So everyone can exhale. They pulled it off. Masterfully. The performances are terrific. Their singing is as good as fans hoped it would be. Both actors pay homage to their predecessors while crafting two distinctive versions of these characters that will likely forever be associated with their careers. A household name already, Grande-Butera notches another win on an impressive and ever-evolving career. Erivo, lesser known though she was an Oscar nominee a couple years back for Harriet, will never find herself existing under-the-radar ever again. 

Directed for the screen by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), this first installment of a two-part Wicked adaptation hits the ground running, or soaring, as a lengthy opening number sets the stage for what will ultimately take place. Chu’s vision is dazzling and expansive, a colorful, vibrant landscape painted with visual splendor. 

Chu’s team blends his ingredients of elaborate sets, visual effects, costumes, score, song, and dialogue seamlessly, making Wicked: Part I a massive achievement, separate and unique from its Broadway roots. While there’s a barrier of sorts between cinematic storytelling and what occurs on stage, Erivo and Grande-Butera draw us in with characters we can understand and relate to, even if they are fantastical witches who sing, cast spells, and live in a magical world we will never inhabit.

We learn of Elphaba’s upbringing, the reason she is green in skin tone from head to toe, and witness her first encounter with Galinda while bringing her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) to a first day attending Shiz University. 

Told in flashback by Galinda, who will later become known as Glinda (a/k/a “the Good Witch”), we see a narrative balancing act between both witches’ perspectives. Initially, Galinda showcases a “mean girl” persona, hoping it will win her favor with Madame Morrible (an underused Michelle Yeoh). The surly Madame is the headmistress of the school who looks for specific students to work directly with a mysterious and enigmatic Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).

When Morrible handpicks Elphaba to attend the school, the dynamic shifts suddenly and sparks a rivalry that blossoms into an unexpected friendship. This mismatch of personalities leads to a number of wonderfully comedic and sweet-tempered moments shared by the actors. Erivo has the ability to build a character in Elphaba that is finding her voice and becoming more steadfast in a belief of who she is and what she stands for. Galinda, at times scurrilous and manipulative, becomes consumed by her own jealousy. We see the good in her, as does Elphaba. Ultimately, when their friendship reaches a crossroads… well…that will be addressed in Wicked: Part II, arriving in theaters in the fall of 2025.

Though the film ends, as the Broadway play does, with the classic song, “Defying Gravity,” in a powerhouse performance by Erivo, at 160 minutes the film adds roughly an hour to the first part of the story. As a result, the film feels a bit heavy and could use some tightening up. Written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, adapted from Holzman’s Broadway book, Stephen Schwartz’s music and lyrics, and elements of the novel by Gregory Maguire, the adaptation of this story to the big screen had to be a dream come true for all involved. This extended time works in ways both positively and negatively.

We have no new songs in Part I, but we do have a handful of scenes with new characters. At least in this initial portion, they do not seem to add a whole lot to the overall story. Part of the extended running time comes from Chu capturing details within his story you simply cannot experience while watching a stage production. His cinematographer, Alice Brooks, uses a careful, guiding hand to show us as much of the Land of Oz as possible.

For newcomers to Wicked, parts of the story may feel, as they might say in Oz, confusifying. For example, the treatment of sentient animals - like Dr. Dillamond, a goat professor voiced by Peter Dinklage - is only briefly touched upon. The sudden ostracizing of animals in this world is never fully explored and so it becomes a bit confusing how they have seemingly become public enemy number one of the ruling class.

Then we have Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), a requisite love interest whose presence in the lives of Elphaba and Galinda feels underwritten. With that said, his character is poised to play a much more substantial role in the sequel, so perhaps this can be forgiven once the entire film has been released.

Chu’s excitement with this material leads to moments of struggle. At times he needs to realize that less is more. Though there are some truly unforgettable musical moments - again “Defying Gravity” is simply incredible - the best moments in Wicked: Part I are when the movie slows down, allowing quieter and more intimate moments between characters speak volumes. 

Through and through, this is a rousing crowd pleaser. A few blemishes notwithstanding, there’s no wonder why Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth have so willingly passed the torch. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera have created two characters who will likely be remembered for a generation or more.

In the end, the wait was more than worth it. This movie will be exceedingly “Popular,” with very few likely finding a way to “…Mourn the Wicked.”

CAST & CREW

Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande-Butera, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, Courtney-Mae Briggs

Director: Jon M. Chu
Written by: Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox
Adapted from the musical book “Wicked” by Winnie Holzman, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Based on the novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire
Release Date: November 22, 2024
Universal Pictures