The eagerly awaited Part 1 of the Wicked movie has finally been released, and I watched it last night—here is my review:
If you’re a fan of the Wicked The Musical or musicals in general, then you are going to absolutely love this movie! It was truly a spectacular musical adaptation of the original show, featuring outstanding acting and phenomenal singing. Each scene was packed with detail and well executed. Everything from the costumes, make-up and set design to the dance sequences and CGI were wonderful.
Word of warning—you will come out of the movie singing the beloved music for days afterward!
Spoilers
Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba were the highlights of the movie—remarkable acting, wonderful chemistry, and well-developed backstories and character progression. The singing was outstanding, with Cynthia's voice moving me emotionally at times. Ariana Grande surprised me the most in her portrayal of Glinda- she was a true revelation and a delight to watch. The dance hat sequence will leave you applauding the friendship between the lead actresses, as it is both enchanting and touching.
The songs felt like genuine storytelling rather than just scripted additions to mimic the show; they truly made them their own. I loved how the songs flowed seamlessly, with an element of unpredictability about when they would start or end. Standouts included The Wizard and I, Popular and Defying Gravity.
I had the chance to see the original theater production during its West End debut, and since then, it has become one of the highest-grossing musicals in history. This movie meets the high expectations set by the show, providing another wonderful way to experience it.(Similar to Les Miserables or The Phantom of the Opera). Adina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth who played the original characters of Elpheba and Glinda make a surprise cameo debut in the movie which was also a fun touch.
Peter Dinklage lends his voice to the kind and intelligent Dr. Dillimand. The backstory of the animals in Oz is quite intriguing and will be further explored in the next installment. Jonathan Bailey delivers an enjoyable and charming performance as Fiyero and features in a fantastic dance scene in the library, which is filmed with creative CGI effects and accompanied by the great song Dancing Through Life.
On the other hand, I didn't feel a strong connection with either Michele Yeoh or Jeff Goldblum, who play Madame Morrible and The Wizard. Goldblum didn't seem to fully immerse himself in the role, making his scenes at the end of the movie in the Emerald City feel out of place and somewhat lacking compared to all the brilliant scenes in Shiz (The Academy where the students study). Although the movie's runtime of 2 hours and 41 minutes might seem lengthy to some, it felt quick to me because each scene was engaging and enjoyable to watch.
I highly recommend watching this movie; it will have you smiling, crying, and laughing from start to finish, and I am eagerly looking forward to the much-anticipated Part 2 being released in a year!
I'd love to hear your thoughts below if you've watched the movie!
