Wicked

by Mike McGranaghan

Successfully adapting a hit Broadway musical to the big screen can be extremely difficult, as the makers of Cats discovered a few years back. A live performance impacts an audience in a very unique manner, so any film version needs to find a way to generate a similar kind of vitality. Wicked benefits from the participation of director Jon M. Chu, a man who, having made two Step Up pictures and In the Heights, fundamentally understands how to combine music and movement cinematically. This is only the first half of the tale, but it’s done with such pizzazz that you clamor for the second half as soon as the end credits start to roll.

The story tracks the evolving relationship between Galinda (Ariana Grande) and the green outcast Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo). They begin as rivals and roommates at Shiz University, where both study magic. Over time, they become friends as Elphaba uncovers a disturbing conspiracy at the school. Michelle Yeoh co-stars as the university’s leading magic professor, and Jeff Goldblum plays the wizard who summons Elphaba to his castle, thereby setting the stage for her to become the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked obviously has very good source material. The plot cleverly subverts what we know about these women from The Wizard of Oz. Galinda is presented as privileged and snooty, Elphaba as sensitive and vulnerable. Our empathy lies with the latter, which builds suspense about how she transitions into a villain. What the film adds to that material is elaborate production design that goes beyond what’s possible on the stage. Chu wisely opts to primarily use real sets, as opposed to overdosing on CGI. That allows us to be fully transported to Oz. Every location is eye-popping to look at, helping to maximize the story’s impact.

Musical numbers are designed and choreographed in inventive ways. A duet between the leads is done partially via split screen, with their actions mirroring each other. Another tune, heralding the arrival of Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), is set inside a spinning room that he and others dance through. Thanks to the staging, the song-and-dance sequences possess a sense of energy that’s infectious. More than once, I realized I was tapping my feet along to the music. When you have those great Stephen Schwartz compositions performed by vocalists as remarkable as Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, it’s a recipe for euphoria.

As magnificent as the look and feel of Wicked are, the performances are most vital to the film’s success. Grande is hilarious as Galinda, conveying the character’s superficiality while still making sure we know she’s got a soul inside. As for Erivo, she could well get an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Elphaba. The actress conveys the pain of being green, the rush of honing her magical abilities, and the blossoming anger that pushes her into a newfound level of confidence. She’s a marvel. Together, the stars create a strong emotional center.

Fans of the musical will undoubtedly be pleased by how the show has been lovingly transferred to the screen. Wicked is not, however, only for those fans. Newcomers can enjoy a true cinematic spectacle that’s bursting with humor, fun, and imagination. I can’t imagine anyone not having a great time at this movie.

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