Splitting “Wicked” into two features was a bold move that could have broken the spell the first film cast over audiences just 12 months ago. It had already done something that a lot of musicals, even hugely successful ones that have taken New York’s Broadway and London’s West End by storm and put butts in seats around the world with national tours, have failed to do, and that was get people to turn out en masse at movie theaters.
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For every “Wicked,” inspired by the long-running stage show based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, there is a “Cats,” “Rock of Ages,” or “Dear Evan Hansen.” Even the remake of West Side Story could pull them in. Wicked, however, had no such issues attracting those who aren’t big fans of the song-and-dance genre. But can lightning strike twice with “Wicked: For Good”? Would audiences with short attention spans stick around for the second part? How would they react to new songs being added? Would the darker tone put people off? It’s like serving up “The Empire Strikes Back” after “Star Wars,” but with a chorus line instead of carbonite. This is the “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” of movie musicals.
Lead actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return as Elphaba, the misunderstood green-skinned woman who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, respectively. Set a little while after the first film, Elphaba now lives in exile in the Ozian forest, while Glinda, now famous and popular, has taken up residence at the palace in Emerald City. The people of Oz continue to rise against the Wicked Witch, but she’s offered a path to redemption by Glinda and The Wizard, who is played once again by Jeff Goldblum.
Without giving too much away for those who haven’t seen the stage production or read the book, things don’t go to plan, and all hell breaks loose. As with the other returning cast, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, and Michelle Yeoh are also back. Colman Domingo joins the cast as the Cowardly Lion. The film’s other most notable addition is Dorothy, the central character of “The Wizard of Oz,” played by Bethany Weaver, although we never directly see her face. It’s one of the tremendous creative choices that once again make director Jon M. Chu’s take on the contemporary classic special. The unexpected is where the film shines most, offering familiar narratives from entirely new perspectives.
When you have a second film that was made back-to-back by, and with, the same people, there’s not a lot to be said about performances because we know everyone delivers. For instance, once again, Erivo and Grande have the special chemistry and give show-stopping performances, but do they offer something elevated and fresh, given the darker and fractious tone? Yes, and that, like Chu, is where they win. It’s different but still on the money and certainly doesn’t lack passion. You believe the conflict, in all its forms, as much as you believe the love. It hits as hard, if not harder. While some characters step back a little, others, like Bailey’s Fiyero, get more room here, and his relationships with Elphaba and Glinda are heady and intense.
As with “Wicked,” “Wicked: For Good” delivers stunningly executed musical numbers, with “Wonderful” and “No Good Deed” as standouts, and new songs “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble” fitting in perfectly. If you didn’t know they were additions, you’d have no idea.
Just like “Wicked,” “Wicked: For Good” is absolutely stunning. Whereas the first film takes place mainly in the daytime, this one mostly takes place at night, which gives Chu and cinematographer Alice Brooks, a master of color and light, a whole new sandbox to work with, featuring fresh textures and a grimmer palette to enhance the mood. It’s as seductive as it is ominous. Nathan Crowley’s set design is exemplary, costume designer Paul Tazewell’s narrative evolution through the couture is magical, and Myron Kerstein’s editing remains masterful.
Will it win over people who didn’t get on board for the first film? Probably not. Will the film’s darkness appeal to those wanting more of the same? It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but that’s not the movie’s fault. Breathtaking and bold, “Wicked: For Good” is an epic and emotional event that will delight and enchant fans. [B]
