Films for Breakfast

I’ve never been much of a musical theater guy, despite having a handful of movie musicals that I adore. Even as an outsider, the hype and adoration for the musical Wicked is unlike anything I’ve ever seen – and demand for a live-action, Hollywood adaptation has been in-demand for as long as I’ve been on the internet. After two decades of resounding success on stage, director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights) is finally bringing Wicked to life with a big screen adaptation that fans have been clamoring for. In case you aren’t familiar with the musical, Wicked takes place before the events of The Wizard of Oz, following Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a young woman misunderstood due to her green skin as she arrives at Shiz University. Shortly after arriving at Shiz with her sister, Elphaba quickly becomes acquainted with the beautiful, popular, and privileged Glinda (Ariana Grande) – the two form an unlikely bond that changes both of their lives and hearts.

It’s within the relationship of Elphaba and Glinda that any production of Wicked will prove its worth, as it is the heart of the entire story. Cynthia Erivo truly delivers a homerun of a performance with her portrayal as Elphaba, delivering both the vocal chops that the character deserves, as well as bringing genuine dramatic weight to the character. Idina Menzel truly defined this role on Broadway, but Erivo wisely makes the character her own while also honoring the core elements of what makes her so beloved. As for Ariana Grande – she is obviously a powerhouse performer who has proved her talent time and time again, but her performance as Glinda feels truly special and unlike anything she’s ever done; not entirely dissimilar to how Lady Gaga blew everyone away with balancing her vocals and acting chops in 2018’s A Star is Born. Grande delivers an incredibly layered performance where she nails every song, crushes every moment of comedic relief to perfection, and delivers both a committed physical and emotion performance.

When Grande and Erivo are on-screen together, the film is absolutely undeniable and infectious; proving that the story of Wicked and the relationship/story between Elphaba and Glinda can stand the test of time when told properly. If I had to name any nitpicks I have with the film, it’s that prior to the two characters meeting up, it does feel as if the film has a bit of trouble finding its footing within both the story and tone of the musical, as well as establishing the world of Oz. However, this is fairly short-lived and once the film kicks into high-gear as the two lead characters arrive at Shiz University and the story can dig into the characters’ relationships with one another, the film soars to fantastic and deeply entertaining heights.

We don’t get many mainstream musicals nowadays, and the few that we do get often feel ashamed of the fact that they are musicals and try to hide it within their marketing efforts. Wonka, a really delightful film, comes to mind – most general audiences had no clue it was a musical until stepping into the theater, yet were delighted by how good it was by the end. Something I really love about Wicked is how unabashedly proud it is to be a musical – Jon M. Chu directs the hell out of this film, with elaborate musical numbers, stunning dance sequences, and grand and theatrical sequences that aren’t afraid to showcase a song in its entirety. The best moments of Wicked are when it goes all out with its musical numbers while delivering immaculate choreography, production design, and costumes to only compliment the excellent vocals and performances on display. Anyone who is a fan of the original musical will be delighted at how effortlessly this cast and crew nail all the iconic songs.

While I’m sure a lot of fans are really happy with the decision to make this a two-parter, I was curious how it would work for me as a newcomer to the story and characters. While I would have preferred for one epic film adaptation and think the finale’s cliffhanger doesn’t feel quite organic, I can’t deny that the film finds plenty of story to tell within the confines of its first half. There is a clear character arc that can be established for most characters here, and it truly feels like an almost complete journey; not entirely dissimilar from something like Dune: Part One or an Avengers: Infinity War – deliberately leaves you wanting more, but is still undeniably thematically fulfilling.

By the end, it’s hard to imagine almost anyone being disappointed by Wicked – from lifelong fans to newcomers alike. Jon M. Chu clearly has a deep love and appreciation for the material, and delivers a film layered in detail and care within each and every frame. The incredible performances from Erivo and Grande make this an incredibly easy recommendation for me, but the heartfelt story and dazzling world-building make me believe this may even have a chance as the Academy Awards. It’s a winner in every sense of the word, and I’m genuinely now excited for Part Two next year.

4/5