MOVIE REVIEW: WICKED: PART I (2024)
Wicked: Part I and its sequel are based on the hit musical, which is loosely based on the book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which made a splash back in the 90s. They tell an alternate history behind The Wizard of Oz. The book took advantage of L. Frank Baum’s original Oz tales being public domain, but the musical and film are steeped in allusions to the timeless 1939 film starring Judy Garland. With that as the audience’s intended frame of reference, this story behind the story unfolds.
While confirming the death of the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo) to the residents of Munchkinland, Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande) is asked if the rumor is true- that she and the Wicked Witch were once friends. This launches the film into a full-length flashback showing the backstory of the Witch (a girl named Elphaba, who is blessed with magical abilities but shunned by society for her green skin and her refusal to conform to unjust norms). Where Elphaba is kind, intelligent, and mature, Glinda is the popular sorority girl- pretty, ditzy, and unskilled, but her family’s wealth opens doors for her all the same. Naturally, they wind up being college roommates. At first, they hate each other. Over time, however, they find the good in each other. When Elphaba receives an invitation to meet the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) in the Emerald City, she brings Glinda along. Elphaba embraces the chance to tap into her potential with magic, but the Wizard (and his intentions for Oz) does not live up to the ladies’ idealistic expectations.
That was a very basic overview of the plot of Part I. If you’ve seen the musical, you know what’s coming. If you haven’t seen the musical, I’m trying not to spoil too much. I have not read the book that started this entertainment empire, but I have seen the Broadway production. This complicates my review process because, at first, my analytical focus was on how the film works as an adaptation of the stage show rather than how it works as a movie in general. Further complicating matters is the fact that I didn’t care too much for the Broadway show. That adds a layer of skepticism that I may not have turned off completely when watching this film.
Despite the opportunity to put a unique stamp on a film adaptation, Wicked doesn’t stray too far from what the musical has become- more of a product than a story. While the film avoids many of the phony poses that make the live show resemble a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert, the decision to split the show into two films represents a different kind of indulgence. The vibe I get from the film is that the folks behind it are every bit as in love with their product as the folks working on the Broadway show. Enthusiasm is good, but the film risks coming across as self-important to the more level-headed and skeptical portions of the uninitiated. It feels like it was made with the superfans in mind, and it offers little middle ground to those new to this world. You will either walk out of this movie a superfan, or it won’t be your thing.
This movie is not my thing. I love the 1939 Wizard of Oz film, and I hold it in high regard as one of the greatest films ever made. Wicked attempts to subvert quite a bit about the Land of Oz that many of us grew up with, which may put your defenses up much like what happened to me. I’ll touch on more of this subversion in my review for the second half of this duology. For now, know that this aspect of the film can be quite jarring, but you do settle into it over time, especially if you watch it a more than once.
Splitting the stage musical into two parts helps Part I in a number of ways. This is the playful side of the show. There are several good songs, and some of the musical numbers are adapted very well for the big screen by doing more with them than a static stage show can. The “Dancing Through Life” scene is among the best this movie has to offer thanks to its inventiveness with the set design. “Popular” is a crowd-pleaser, displaying Glinda’s shallowness, but also allowing Ariana Grande to have fun with it.
One clear downside to this film being only half a story is the fact that three quarters of the film is dedicated wind-up, world building, and some fan service as well. When the plot finally thickens, it becomes a sprint to the finish- well, intermission actually. For such an indulgent film, the meat of it is remarkably rushed. Those who do not come out as superfans may be irritated that the filmmakers turned the first act of the musical into film version that ends up longer than the entire musical itself. Yes, you could have seen the full story in the time it just took you to watch half of it, but you saved a considerable amount of money by doing so!
Given that the story focuses on the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba is positioned as the star and protagonist. Cynthia Erivo does a fine job portraying a complex character trying to manage her own hopes and dreams despite her family and society lack of enthusiasm (and outright hostility at times) for her. Much like Ryan Gosling’s Ken in Barbie, however, Grande’s Glinda steals the show. She gets the best lines, a more expressive nature, and more character development. She may be a bit annoying at times, but it’s clear she is having fun with the role.
One last negative for me is the look of the film. All of the costumes are vibrant and fashionable (well, maybe not Elphaba’s wardrobe) to the point where my brain couldn’t believe that these are everyday clothes of common people in this fantasy land. The same goes for the visual-effects heavy scenery. In this day and age when CGI can create so many things, it’s curious that so much of what we see in films these days feels lifeless and unconvincing that the characters are really interacting with the world around them. It may look pretty, but if it doesn’t feel real, then the illusion is shattered. Just because you can create so much digitally doesn’t mean you should turn away from practical effects.
In The Wizard of Oz, the Land of Oz is a place that exists in Dorothy Gale’s mind. Sure, the books expand upon Oz, its features, and its people, but even then, it is presented as an idyllic place. Wicked subverts this fairy tale setting by trying to make Oz more like our world- vulnerable to dishonesty, greed, manipulation, and tyranny. It is ironic then, that this decision takes a little of the magic out of this story about witches, wizards, and conjurers of the supernatural.
Truth be told, Wicked: Part I contains the ingredients for an origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West that has a lot of potential. For my taste, however, that potential gets buried in the kind of lavish overindulgence that may work for Broadway but not for the silver screen.
FINAL RATING 3 out of 5
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