After a year of anticipation, the highly anticipated movie adaptation of the Broadway hit Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, arrives in theaters this Friday.
As a huge fan of feel-good stories, I’m thrilled to share that ‘Wicked: For Good’ is bringing back Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the incredible Elphaba and Glinda! It’s a magical continuation of the beloved story, and it beautifully weaves together with the classic tale of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ – it’s a must-see for anyone who loves a little enchantment in their life.
Oh my gosh, you guys, the movie is EVERYTHING! It’s all about Elphaba – Cynthia Erivo is just phenomenal as her – and how she’s been cast out of Oz, branded the Wicked Witch of the West. But she doesn’t give up! She actually seeks out Glinda, her old rival who’s become a friend, and they team up to take down the Wizard – and Jeff Goldblum is PERFECT as him, seriously! It’s a total reunion and a fight for Oz, and I’m already obsessed!
The cast of the highly anticipated movie Wicked: For Good has been traveling the world promoting the film, but the tour faced a scare when Ariana Grande was unexpectedly rushed by a fan while walking the red carpet.
The new musical movie is coming out in just a few days, and the first reviews are starting to appear.
Critics have widely praised Chu’s large-scale, two-part musical film, a major cinematic achievement that cost a reported $320 million to make.
A lot of the film’s success is thanks to the strong performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, especially Grande’s performance as Glinda, which is already generating Oscar buzz.
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised Ariana Grande’s performance in the second film, stating she ‘owns’ the role of Glinda and brings her character to life with a radiant quality.
Ariana Grande has been performing since childhood, and her portrayal beautifully captures moments of inner thought, worry, or sorrow. Her dedication to the character of Elphaba also reveals a touching sensitivity, according to the writer.
He referred to both Grande and Erivo as ‘stellar vocal talents.’
Rooney wrote that Erivo continues to be incredibly powerful, possessing a voice that is stunning and a seemingly endless ability to convey genuine emotion.
I’m so excited for Wicked: Part One! I heard from Rooney that while they’ve included the most iconic songs we all love, the movie really shines because it focuses so much on developing the characters and telling a rich story. Plus, apparently the visuals and sets are absolutely gorgeous – it sounds like they’ve more than made up for not including every song by really investing in the overall experience.
Peter Debruge of Variety described Wicked: For Good as a thrilling continuation of the first film, and highlighted Ariana Grande as the standout performer.
He explained that the first movie focused on Elphaba finding her strength, and this new one is about Glinda making amends. However, he believes both characters need to be fully developed for the story to truly succeed.
Debruge praised Chu’s version of the second act of ‘Wicked,’ calling it ‘spectacular’ and saying it felt like a complete story on its own. He also noted that it addressed a frequent criticism of the show by giving Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande more opportunities to share scenes and songs together as the story concludes.
Debruge praised the impressive sets of Wicked: For Good designed by Nathan Crowley and the costumes by Oscar winner Paul Tazewell. However, he also pointed out that the second part of the film used more digital effects than the first.
According to Brian Truitt of USA Today, Wicked: For Good is more emotionally complex than the first film, focusing on character feelings and a satisfying story rather than big musical numbers.
He explained that ‘And For Good’ is primarily aimed at fans of the original ‘Wizard of Oz,’ as it cleverly incorporates the story and colorful elements of the classic movie into its own narrative.
Truitt praises both Erivo and Grande for driving the musical’s emotional impact, and particularly highlights Grande’s development of the character Glinda as noteworthy.
The film benefits from exploring Grande’s character, Glinda, more deeply, with elements of her past shaping a compelling journey. Plus, Erivo is fantastic as Elphaba, portraying a character with a full range of feelings while still remaining someone viewers can connect with.
Unlike some other popular songs from Wicked, like ‘Defying Gravity’ and ‘Popular’, the musical For Good focuses more on gentle ballads and emotionally resonant duets.
However, Truitt points out that this isn’t always effective; some of the music in the second part of the work actually detracts from the scenes rather than enhancing them.
Even with some criticisms, Truitt gave the musical Wicked a strong rating of three and a half out of four stars.
Even though the first ‘Wicked’ movie set a high bar, Pete Hammond from Deadline says ‘Wicked: For Good’ is even better.
The reviewer praised both Erivo and Grande, especially highlighting Grande’s performance as captivating and scene-stealing whenever she appeared on screen.
For me, Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba. Her performance is just so incredibly rich and full of life – she brings a real vulnerability and humanity to the role that only a film adaptation could truly capture. It’s the most compelling part of the whole production, and she absolutely owns it.
He particularly praised Jonathan Bailey’s performance as the charming Prince Fiyero, who finds himself caught in a love triangle with Glinda and Elphaba.
Okay, so everyone always talks about how the second act of Wicked is… tricky, right? But honestly, Jon M. Chu? He fixed it. That’s what Hammond said, and I totally agree! He didn’t just leave it alone, he actually made things better, added stuff that genuinely improves it. It’s like, he understood the problems people had and just… solved them. I’m obsessed!
He felt the newer songs on the soundtrack, especially Ariana Grande’s ‘The Girl In The Bubble,’ weren’t particularly memorable.
Hammond pointed out that the film’s fantasy story reflects harsh political realities. The animals of Oz are brutally exiled because of the Wizard’s oppressive and controlling leadership.
He also pointed out that the film subtly explores political themes, allowing them to develop naturally rather than being overly emphasized.
You can certainly find deeper meaning in it if you look for it, which elevates this musical beyond simple entertainment. It delivers a clear message, and does so well. Ultimately, though, it’s just a really fun show.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the buzz around Wicked: For Good, and it’s been quite a ride! While most early reviews are celebrating it as a real high point in director Jon M. Chu’s career, a few sources haven’t been as impressed, calling the movie a bit of a letdown compared to expectations.
Jake Coyle of the Associated Press noted that while Wicked: For Good showcases impressive acting and skill, it sometimes feels overly staged and more like a grand spectacle than a naturally flowing film, with characters appearing and disappearing as if directed by a powerful force.
He complimented Grande on her skillful handling of the film’s comedic scenes, which stood out in a movie largely focused on serious themes of conflict and upheaval. However, he felt Erivo truly brought the story to life with her performance.
Despite starting with a grand and promising beginning, the movie Wicked: For Good doesn’t quite deliver on its potential, according to William Bibbiani of The Wrap.
He pointed out that the movie’s storyline becomes confusing because the director attempts to connect it too closely with the original story of The Wizard of Oz.
According to one critic, the musical ‘Wicked: For Good’ is limited by its storyline, which unfolds both before and during the events of ‘The Wizard of Oz’.
The story becomes quite complicated as it explains how Dorothy arrives and reveals the backstories of the Scarecrow, Lion, and Tin Man.
Despite happening mostly in the background, this scene surprisingly uses a lot of screen time.
Even more frustrating, this subplot doesn’t really connect to the central relationship between Elphaba and Glinda, and it stops their story from having a truly fulfilling ending.
Like other reviewers, Bibbiani praised both Erivo and Grande, describing them as incredibly talented performers.
Currently, critics give the musical Wicked a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences who have seen it give it a very high 97% approval rating.
Wicked: For Good is directed by award-winning Jon M Chu, who was also behind the 2024 film.
The first film was a huge financial success, earning about $747.2 million despite costing only $150 million to make.
The musical ‘Wicked’ was highly acclaimed and earned 10 Academy Award nominations, winning two awards at this year’s ceremony.
The films, featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, also include performances by Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Bowen Yang.
Wicked: For Good is scheduled to be released in theaters on Friday, November 21.
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2025-11-19 19:41