Get ready for a dazzling adaptation of one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals. Wicked: Part One premiered in theaters nationwide on Friday, Nov. 22. Wicked has been a Broadway sensation for over 20 years, has had numerous international tours, and is also currently playing in London’s West End. Directed by John M. Chu, the film reimagines the Broadway staple with lavish sets, vibrant musical numbers, and an amazing cast including Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Bowen Yang, Peter Dinklage, Marissa Bode, and Andy Nyman.
Wicked: Part One tells the story of Elphaba (Erivo), an intelligent and courageous young woman born with green skin and supernatural powers, which make her an outcast. Elphaba is a reimagined Wicked Witch of the West, first introduced in L. Frank Baum’s Oz book series and later portrayed in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. The film draws from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which explores how Elphaba was not necessarily born bad.
The film begins at Shiz University, where Glinda (Grande), a bubbly and self-absorbed young woman, arrives with a million pink suitcases, thinking she is going to be the school’s star student. Elphaba, on the other hand, comes only to care for her younger sister Nessarose (Bode), who is disabled and favored by their father, Governor Thropp (Nyman). Despite her father’s disdain for her, Elphaba’s magical powers catch the attention of Madame Morrible (Yeoh), Shiz’s headmistress. Elphaba becomes a student and is assigned to be roommates with Glinda. The two initially fight, but things change as an effort to humiliate Elphaba at a school dance turns into the two becoming close friends.
In the city of Oz, animals are not only capable of speech but are just as intelligent as humans. Elphaba, deeply passionate about protecting these creatures, unknowingly finds herself at odds with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Goldblum) when he initiates a sinister campaign to silence the animals of Oz. Elphaba’s fury intensifies when one of her professors, Dr. Dillamond (Dinklage), a goat, becomes one of the wizard’s first victims. As the Wizard of Oz seeks control over Elphaba’s magical powers to silence the animals and turn them into beasts, Elphaba must rebel against the wizard’s corrupt regime. She must also navigate her complex friendship with Glinda, who remains torn between loyalty to Oz or her relationship with Elphaba. To make matters even worse, both Elphaba and Glinda share love for Prince Fiyero (Bailey).
Wicked: Part One is truly a great adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, with some exciting cameos. Grande and Erivo deliver stunning performances, and their vocal excellence make them the perfect Glinda and Elphaba. They really honor the iconic roles originated by Broadway legends Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel while adding their own unique style. The intricately designed sets bring a nice visual dimension to the film, and enhance the entertaining musical numbers. Each of the musical numbers radiate the excitement of seeing Wicked live on Broadway.
The production efforts behind this film are truly remarkable. Both Erivo and Grande not only performed all of their stunts but also sang live during filming. Filmmakers also tried to limit as much CGI as possible, so the set designers constructed so many of the sets from Emerald City to Shiz University to Munchkin Land. An actual 16-ton train was even modified to create the Emerald City train, and over nine million tulips were planted to create the vibrant fields of Munchkin Land. There is just so much incredible engineering and artistic talent behind this production that really pays homage to live theater.
One notable downside is the film’s length. At two hours and 41 minutes, it has nearly the same runtime of the stage musical but only covers the first half of the story. While the extended runtime adds some additional content from the books, audiences will, unfortunately, have to wait a full year for the release of Wicked: Part Two. Although audiences do not have to sit through a five-hour movie and get to experience new songs in part two, fans may wish that the parts were released closer together.
Wicked: Part One does not just defy gravity – it exceeds some high expectations, too. Overall, the first film delivers a wonderful adaptation of a Broadway classic. Now, fans will have to face the challenge of enduring a year-long wait to see the end of this story.
