The new blockbuster movie Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, made history with the highest box office sales ever for a musical adapted to film. I understand why people worldwide including myself are cramming the movie theaters to see this production.
As someone who has never seen the Broadway show Wicked, I thought the movie itself was spectacular. However, I did my research before watching the film to learn the backstory of the musical and who originally starred in it. The Broadway cast featured Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. From learning this, I recognized the hidden jokes that the producers put in the movie that hinted back to the musical, making it even more fun for a viewer. For instance, one scene included both Menzel and Chenoweth to show appreciation to the Broadway cast of Wicked.
Even though I researched Wicked beforehand, I would not say that it was necessary to enjoy the film and that someone should not be intimidated to watch the movie because they haven’t seen the musical or don’t know anything about it.
Overall, the acting, singing, and dancing were showstopping. Grande specifically impressed me, and I enjoyed seeing her take on a new vocal role that wasn’t pop. Erivo’s vocal abilities also kept me on the edge of my seat and the edge of tears during her performance of “Defying Gravity.” I’m still holding space for the lyrics from “Defying Gravity.” As for the dancing, I appreciated how the choreography differed from the typical musical theater style often produced in musicals. The choreography in the film had a more contemporary style to it with unique movements that mirrored the whimsicalness of the story.
My only critique was the length of the movie. With being almost three hours long, Wicked is not a quick thing to fit into a busy schedule, but it is rather an investment of your time, for after watching Wicked, every viewer can be left with a meaningful experience or lesson. While watching Wicked, the time flew by for me; however, my family commented on how it felt long for them. So, when you watch it in your local theaters, be comfortable and bring a snack with you.
Finally, after watching Wicked, I felt empowered and oddly reflective. The movie hints at several political issues in our world, and the ending message truly hit home for me. In the last scene (spoilers ahead…), Erivo’s character Elphaba realizes that the wizard in charge of OZ is powerless. Instead of using magic, he uses scapegoats of the animals to unite the people against a common enemy that isn’t an actual enemy. This method is used often in our political world, especially after the latest election. I hope that every person who watched Wicked or who plans to watch Wicked knows that this is so much more than a movie, it is a warning for our society–teaching us that we shouldn’t always believe what others tell us, that sometimes the “bad guy” isn’t the evil one.
