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At last, Wicked is a movie musical that doesn’t apologize for being a movie musical

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At last, Wicked is a movie musical that doesn't apologize for being a movie musical

As a lifelong theater enthusiast who grew up with “Wicked” as one of my favorite musicals, I must say that this film adaptation did not disappoint! The casting was spot-on, the sets were breathtakingly beautiful, and the performances were top-notch.

If you enjoy the musical “Wicked,” then you’ll be delighted by the new Wicked movie. It faithfully adapts the Broadway show song by song and beat by beat, preserving quirky elements like the peculiar pronunciations in Oz (such as transforming “confusing” into “confusifying”). If you appreciate musicals overall, this film is tailored for you. The performers deliver, it strikes the necessary emotional chords, and the production offers a visual and auditory feast that’s nothing short of lavish and extravagant.

If you aren’t fond of musicals, it might not hold much appeal for you as Wicked is a full-blown musical that doesn’t compromise its style to cater to your tastes. This production is all about the essence of musical theater, bold and unapologetic, even adding an unexpectedly theatrical flourish just because that’s part of the show business charm. For years now, movie musicals have been using gimmicks I presume are aimed at pleasing those who find it too “cool” to appreciate a musical on its own merits, and I find it tiresome. I don’t want to listen to actors like Joaquin Phoenix straining their voices over classic American songs in Joker: Folie à Deux or hear film actors with limited singing skills ruining the magnificent score of Les Misérables. Can’t we simply have a musical that embraces its own musicality, including all the heartfelt cheesiness that comes with it?

We do. It’s called Wicked. Get into it.

Review: Wicked (Part 1)

Step one to making a good musical: cast people who can sing. This seems like a no-brainer but you’d be surprised how many movies mess it up. As long as I live, I will never get over director Tim Burton casting obvious non-singers Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in his 2007 adaptation of Sweeney Todd, deciding that what Stephen Sondheim’s rich, twisty score needed was singers who sound like they’re whispering into a tin can the whole time.

Jon M. Chu, who has previously directed musicals such as 2021’s “In The Heights”, is at the helm of this production of “Wicked”. Given his experience, he avoids beginner’s mistakes. In the role of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West (a character you may recognize from the “Wizard of Oz” tale), Chu has chosen Oscar nominee and accomplished singer Cynthia Erivo. She delivers a captivating debut performance, skillfully portraying this overlooked, insecure individual who wears her pride as a defense mechanism. Despite being equally capable of hitting the high notes that Idina Menzel did when she first played the role on Broadway, Erivo infuses her own style, offering unique interpretations rather than mere imitations of previous performers.

In the role of Elphaba’s former rival-turned-friend Ginda, pop sensation Ariana Grande plays her part with a more cautious approach, occasionally resembling the original stage performer, Cristin Chenoweth. Given that Erivo has more acting experience, this choice seems reasonable as Grande delivers a performance that lacks some dynamism. However, she excels in what truly matters – her immaculate, powerful vocals. It’s also possible to argue that Grande’s relatively subdued emotional expression suits Glinda well, as she begins the film as a shallow and mean-spirited character, later revealing hidden layers of complexity.

The success of “Wicked” relies heavily on its portrayal of Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship, and it delivers admirably. Many memorable scenes revolve around their contrasting personalities clashing, reconciling, and ultimately reaching a dramatic peak in the powerfully performed anthem “Defying Gravity,” which Erivo breathes new life into.

The remaining actors deliver strong performances, providing excellent backup. Michelle Yeoh delivers a subtle yet impactful portrayal as a university professor, where Elphaba and Glinda are honing their sorceress skills. Jeff Goldblum thrives in his role as the eccentric Wizard of Oz, while Peter Dinklage excels as a wise, old history professor who also happens to be a talking goat. Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James bring humor to their minor roles within Glinda’s fan club. The film boasts an impressive cast, which I attribute to Chu. He doesn’t aim to be original or leave his mark on the material; instead, he understands that the key to the movie’s success lies in telling the beloved story, assembling talented individuals, and letting them shine.

The weaknesses of Wicked

It seems some individuals find musicals unappealing due to their unique narrative style where characters often express emotions through singing rather than spoken dialogue. This departure from conventional conversation might be difficult for some to accept. For those who enjoy musical theater, this is simply the format; there’s no explanation beyond that. If you struggle with accepting characters singing instead of speaking, then musicals might not resonate with you.

I enjoy musicals, but sometimes I understand why people criticize them. In “Wicked,” the song that failed to impress me was “Dancing Through Life,” a group number featuring new student Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). This song discusses the joy of being a carefree playboy, which I found rather uninteresting. The melody wasn’t engaging enough to make up for its lackluster lyrics. To compensate, the production team overemphasized the set design and choreography, filling the scene with excess movements that only made it more apparent to me that it was falling short.

So I cringed, which I think is what most musical-haters do whenever the orchestra starts to swell. Musical theater is often dinged for feeling too earnest, too bold, too bright and bubbly. The best musicals, including Wicked, have a dramatic counterweight to balance this out. Although Wicked has plenty of sparkle and shine, it also tackles some serious themes, including family abuse, bigotry, and the power of propaganda. But “Dancing Through Life” was all sugary sweetness and no sour bite.

The phrase “theater kid” is frequently used in a derogatory manner, painting a picture of someone who constantly performs, is overly eager to please to the point of being grating, and incorporates exaggerated gestures like jazz hands into everyday interactions. Wicked embodies some of this exuberance. It tends to go overboard at times, occasionally becoming excessive. With a runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes, the film is excessively long. There are several scenes that could be trimmed, including an action chase sequence near the end, which was likely included in the movie version because Wicked, being a major blockbuster, typically requires an action scene.

Verdict

The film version of Wicked only reaches halfway through the original show’s storyline; that’s correct, we’re watching Wicked (Part 1). The second part is set to conclude the tale in November. At first, I was disappointed about getting half a story, especially since it wasn’t indicated in any promotional materials. Since the stage production lasts approximately two hours and forty minutes, I wondered why they couldn’t fit the whole thing into one movie. However, upon watching the film, I realized that condensing it further would risk compromising its essence. Even if you removed the sections mentioned earlier, it would still be too lengthy to include another half a musical.

It’s alright, as Wicked managed to win me over despite its flaws. If you’re willing, Wicked will resonate with the theater enthusiast within each of us. The extravagances even become enjoyable at times. For example, a fresh musical number exclusively for the film is included as an opportunity for some popular cameos. Although it drags on excessively, those cameos are indeed crowd-pleasing, and it’s challenging to maintain frustration towards a movie that strives so hard to bring joy to its audience.

Wicked opens this weekend in theaters everywhere.

Grade: A-

*Although it becomes clear later in the tale that Fiyero faces significant hardships, the tune doesn’t earn extra points for being ironically prophetic, given that much of his struggles are saved for Part 2.

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2024-11-19 23:41

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