Review: Wicked
“Wicked: Part One” soared into theatres the week of Thanksgiving. Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, the movie covers the events of the first act of the musical. “Wicked: the Musical” being an adaptation itself of a book of the same name, and that book being an interpretation of the book and movie “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, puts “Wicked: Part One” 4 layers deep into adaptation. This gave director Jon Chu a difficult job: synthesizing the story of the musical with the iconic visuals of the 1939 movie.
To this end, Chu succeeds. It’s all there: Galinda’s ostentatious pink dress, Elphaba’s (the Wicked Witch of the West) pointy black hat and, of course, her unnaturally green skin. In fact, most things are by the book. Chu doesn’t take any big risks, sticking closely to the musical in an almost line for line recreation. Despite this, at 2 hours 40 minutes, the film manages to be about as long as both acts of the show combined, even while only covering the first act. The extra length, coming from a few added scenes, is the movie’s biggest flaw, but it isn’t a fatal one. Efficient pacing carries it through its slow moments, as do the well placed songs. Visuals are another place where “Wicked: Part One” excels. Chu puts his own spin on the iconic Ozian locations of the Emerald City and Munchkinland, as well as the “Wicked” exclusive Shiz. Munchkinland in particular is a place where “Wicked: Part One’s” $145 million dollar budget shows. Chu had 9 million real tulips planted around Munchkinland, and this combined with the superb set design makes for a visually arresting effect.
Cynthia Erivo and pop star Ariana Grande play Elphaba and Galinda, respectively. Erivo’s Elphaba is cynical and righteous, aghast at the discrimination against the talking Animals of Oz. Grande’s Galinda, however, is a shallow aristocrat whose primary concern is her makeup and clothing. Put them together at Shiz University and the expected hilarity and drama ensue. Add Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero, a handsome foreign prince, and you’ve got yourself a love triangle. Neither actress gives a particularly powerful performance, but their undeniable vocal skill allows you to forget their average acting. Marissa Bode competently plays Nessarose, Elphaba’s paraplegic sister, and Ethan Slater is good as the Munchkin Boq. Some notable low points are Peter Dinklage as Doctor Dillamond, a Goat history professor at Shiz who is unconvincingly rendered in CGI, and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, the sorcery professor. Neither Dinklage nor Yeoh seem very comfortable singing, and they don’t bring much energy to either role.
But seeing the movie probably won’t be your first exposure to the cast. Over the past month, Grande and Erivo have embarked on one of the most bizarre and emotional press tours in recent memory. Decked out in green and pink, the actresses went from news outlet to news outlet, seeming to spontaneously burst into tears at the mention of anything even a little poignant. Their absurdly over the top sincerity has been the subject of much online ridicule, and suffice it to say that the movie does not exactly reach the emotional heights of the interviews. But in defense of Grande and Erivo, the emotion of the interviews served as somewhat of a breath of fresh air from the corporate nothingness of other Hollywood actors. At the very least, they gave us something to laugh about.
