Wicked Part 1
A movie review by Alex First
Wicked, the extended musical, of which this 160-minute epic is only part I of 2, is a grand spectacle.
It looks magnificent on the big screen. Underpinning a dark underbelly, what we see is colourful and captivating.
It appears that no expense has been spared to breathe life anew into the beloved stage musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2003.
In turn, that was an adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, based around the untold story of the witches of Oz.
The timeframe in which it is set pre-dates L. Frank Baum’s enduring classic, The Wizard of Oz, first published in 1900.
Wicked focuses on the unlikely friendship between two diametrically opposite women, with conflicting ideals, one shunned and the other adored.
It is also an origin story of how the former, Elphaba, became the Wicked Witch of the West.
She was born green and ostracised by her parents, who favoured her younger, disabled sister, Nessarose.
Elphaba accompanies Nessarose to Shiz university, where Elphaba’s yet to be honed magical powers are immediately recognised by Madame Morrible.
She is the headmistress, who doubles as the Dean of Sorcery.
Madame Morrible pulls a swifty on fawning, popular, ambitious, privileged student Galinda.
Against the wishes of the Pretty in Pink blonde who has tickets on herself, Galinda is forced to room with Elphaba.
She and Elphaba clash … badly, before their relationship undoes a metamorphosis.
Elphaba is none too happy at forced changes at the university that sees the demonising of clever, speaking animals who teach there.
Madame Morrible is personally training Elphaba.
After witnessing her development, the Dean of Sorcery secures her a meeting with the kingdom’s ruler, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Only his reception is hardly what Elphaba was expecting.
She exposes him … and all hell breaks loose.
Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) helms this movie adaptation, which deals with the abuse of power, bullying and girl power.
Cynthis Erivo is particularly appealing as the spurned, intelligent Elphaba. There is a dignity about the way she goes about her business, piecing her way through the challenges Elphaba faces.
Ariana Grande brings a Mean Girls’ streak to her buoyant representation of Galinda/Glinda. She revels in the vacuousness of her persona, being gifted a series of choice one-liners.
As Madame Morrible, Michelle Yeoh is a dominant, potent and controlling figure.
Jonathan Bailey makes for a dashing and playful Prince Fiyero.
A significant touchstone is Peter Dinklage’s vocalisation of the professorial goat Dr Dillamond. His interactions with Elphaba are among the film’s many highlights.
The ageless Jeff Goldblum readily assumes the mantle of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, intent on faking it to make it.
While in movie musicals it is not uncommon to do a double take when the characters suddenly break out into song, Wicked comes into its own as it develops.
Its zenith is the megahit, the oh so compelling Defying Gravity, which fittingly sees out Part I.
The first half of Wicked is superbly choreographed and orchestrated. I very much look forward to Part II, for which I – like you – will have to wait 12 months.
Rated PG, Wicked Part I scores an 8 out of 10. 160 mins