Credit: Elyssa Grillo

Join WSPN’s Jessi Dretler and Elyssa Grillo as they review the new movie adaptation of the famous Broadway Musical: Wicked.

Starring pop star Ariana Grande and actress Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked” was released to the general public on Nov. 22, but had early access screenings starting Nov. 20 due to popular demand for the film. “Wicked” was originally a book written by Gregory Maguire, and later became a famous Broadway musical produced by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. The movie follows the same plot line and contains all of the songs from the original musical soundtrack. Some fans of “Wicked” and Broadway in general have been anticipating the movie, hoping that this adaptation properly encapsulates the iconic musical on the big screen.

The newly released Wicked film is part one of two parts, and follows the story of the unexpected relationship between two very different women in the land of Oz: Elphaba, the controversial green-skinned girl, and Glinda, the popular and bubbly blonde who seeks to please everyone. The film explores their deeply contrasting personalities as they meet and are forced to be roommates at Shiz University. Elphaba, who is known for her erratic and reserved spirit, is considered an outcast and is bullied by the students at Shiz while Glinda thrives socially.

Even with their differences, the two women begin to cultivate a deep and meaningful bond as they navigate the political and social landscape that exists in the land of Oz. As tensions rise under the oppressive rule of the Wizard, Elphaba begins to question his authority in this world and even her place in the society that has looked down on her from birth. Even Glinda who is initially unaware of the corruption around her notices that a change must be made in the government. As tensions rise between Elphaba, Glinda and the political systems of Oz, this story takes a twisted turn, revealing the questions of power and morality.

This story is an impassioned interpretation of the history between The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch who we see only the surface of in “The Wizard of Oz” (1900). The Wicked Witch is given a name, Elphaba, as well as an empathizing backstory, bestowing humility on her that audiences have never seen. Glinda is also given more depth since her personality is dwindled down to just goodness in the original. In her young adulthood, Glinda is more than good, but curious, naive, heartfelt and impressionable. We learn that she conforms to the Oz societal changes, yet Elphaba breaks her out of that shell. Together, the witches develop each other’s strengths while defying one another’s weaknesses. “Wicked” provides emotional context to the original tale of Oz, in which friendship, morals and power intertwine, undermining the original idea that the leads are simply wicked versus good.

Despite the film’s length, a little over two and a half hours, “Wicked” only exhibits the first act of the musical. This allowed Schwartz, Holzman and director Jon Chu to zone in on certain scenes that were overlooked in the musical adaptation, including Elphaba’s childhood. These details increased our understanding of Elphaba’s character development along with her relationship with NessaRose.

Although the audience got a deeper understanding of the characters, it resulted in the movie feeling too long. Some of the extra scenes could have been condensed to maintain a better pace and to keep the audience engaged. Additionally, with the release date of part two set for a year after the first, the wait feels unnecessary and drawn out. The story would have been more impactful if it had been released in a shorter timeline. The long gap between parts risks losing some of the excitement built up from the first film.

For fans of the “Wicked” Broadway musical, the film adaptation stays remarkably true to the original stage version. Many of the iconic songs in the movie, such as “Defying Gravity” and “Popular,” were integrated into scenes seamlessly. The choreographed dances and performances during each song definitely maintains the energy and spirit of a Broadway musical. While the Broadway performance focuses more on the music and performance aspect, the film takes more time to build up the characters and the plot, giving it some minor differences.

The vibrancy of the film was a major principle for us, and “Wicked” did not disappoint. “The Wizard of Oz” is world-renowned for its debut of technicolor in film, so we were hoping that “Wicked” would carry on Oz’s colorful legacy with vivid and lively hues. From Galinda’s bountiful pink closet to the shining green of the Emerald City, the screen was filled with bright and eye-capturing color, which honored the magic of the world of Oz and kept us entranced the whole way through.

As for the actresses, we really enjoyed Grande and Erivo’s renditions of Glinda and Elphaba. While we expected Grande’s high notes to be strong because of her singing career, we were unsure of her acting since she hadn’t made an appearance on TV since her Nickelodeon days and a few Saturday Night Live shows here and there. Nevertheless, her portrayal of Glinda was phenomenal. We felt like she was playing a piece of herself rather than just a character, which may be true due to the pop star’s historical obsession with “The Wizard of Oz” universe. Furthermore, Erivo’s voice was clear and captivating, especially in “Defying Gravity” during the ending scene. At that point, Elphaba is discovering her full magical power and unleashing it. In the closing song, Erivo frees that same energy through her voice, letting go of her hardships and constraints of growing up green and misunderstood.

Overall, we would rate the “Wicked” movie a 9/10. The acting was captivating and it stayed true to the heart of the beloved Broadway musical. While the film’s length dragged out a bit and the long wait for the second part can be frustrating, the film’s emotional depth and astounding production makes up for these flaws. Grande and Erivo shine in their roles, bringing both humor and heart. We believe this movie is a perfect watch for people of all ages and backgrounds. For those who are “Wicked” musical fans or even those who have never seen the Broadway performance, this powerful adaptation can be enjoyed by all.