Fans of the musical will not be disappointed with “Wicked: For Good.” Jon M. Chu’s expansions on the existing material were fantastic, and for fans of the musical, the film felt close to perfect. It’s rare for a movie adaptation of such a beloved Broadway show to feel both reverent and ambitious, but both “Wicked” movies have managed that quite successfully.
For those unfamiliar with the musical, two movies might feel excessive and the pacing might feel slow or indulgent. But for fans who grew up loving “Wicked,” I’d argue it was worthwhile. “Wicked: Part One” slightly deviated from Act I of the stage version and “Wicked: For Good” added even more new material, including original songs and several extended sequences. These inclusions felt valuable and gave the sequel a strong narrative with sufficient breadth. Act II of the musical moves at breakneck speed, but “For Good” is slower, allowing the film to explore more of the political and emotional fallout of Elphaba’s actions at the end of Act I.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande delivered on all fronts, especially in their rendition of “For Good.” The film’s entire story, split into two parts, gives the audience more time with Glinda and Elphaba — further expanding on their friendship, fallout and the aftermath of Elphaba’s death. Onstage, that arc unfolds quickly, but, once again, Chu takes more time to explore both characters, give them original songs and deepen their emotional trajectories.
Erivo’s Elphaba is more internal and restrained than Idina Menzel’s original Broadway version, making her new song “No Place Like Home” an interesting addition. Musically, it’s beautiful, but more importantly it shows viewers just how much Elphaba has sacrificed by not working with the Wizard, providing more context for her transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West.
The other new song, “The Girl in the Bubble,” offers equally strong insight into Glinda’s character: exploring how she copes with public pressure and isolation, especially as a political puppet controlled by Madame Morrible, played by Michelle Yeoh.
Grande plays Glinda with an impressive mix of humor, sincerity and vulnerability that she effortlessly weaves through most scenes. She captures Glinda’s signature bubbly side, while also bringing out the deeper tragedy of a girl whose entire life is a performance. “The Girl in the Bubble” in particular drives home how much harder that performance became once she was thrust into political power.
In addition, Jeff Goldblum played The Wizard phenomenally. He is weird, funny, charming and creepily charismatic, delivering an equally hilarious and unsettling performance — a role practically written for Goldblum. It’s easy to forget that he’s evil because he plays the role with such disarming charisma. But, thankfully, Elphaba won’t let us.
Ethan Slater delivered another surprising but standout performance. His transformation from Boq to the Tin Man was tragic, especially once he took charge of the witch hunt.
Visually, the film was stunning: it was colorful, fantastical and just the right amount of over-the-top. The production design leans into the excessive maximalism that “Wicked” deserves, and Oz felt like so much more than a CGI blur like others of its caliber, including “A Wrinkle in Time” or “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” The costume designs were also a huge win. From the Tin Man and the Scarecrow to the symbolism behind the simplicity of Glinda’s wedding dress, it was a huge success overall.
“Wicked: For Good” isn’t trying to convert people who never cared about the musical. It’s a movie made for the people who already love it. It’s cheesy, a complete spectacle and worth every second.
This article was edited by Alfie Pritchard, Jessica Ackerman and Walker Whalen, Copy Editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Arin Burrell, Andrew Kummeth and Ryan Sieve.
