Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I had high expectations for “Wicked” and was hoping the movie would move me just as the play had. Even watching the many press interviews of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande where they cried in almost all of them. I was hoping those tears were worth watching the movie, and it was.
The new movie production “Wicked” starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande is based on the hit Broadway production “Wicked” written by Winnie Holzman. The musical was based on the book by Gregory Maguire. The Broadway play has been running for over 20 years.
The Real Wicked Witch
Grande did such a phenomenal job playing Glinda, especially with her body language, gestures, and mannerisms. She’s especially powerful portraying Glinda as a self-absorbed popular girl who will do anything to put herself on top.
The portrayal of the real side of Glinda was quite fantastic. It captured how imperfect she really is and how she is a slight bully to Elphaba.
There is huge character development towards the middle of the movie when all the students from Shiz University sneak out to a ball. Elphaba arrives and is given a dirty look even when she starts dancing. Glinda joins her to better comfort Elphaba which is the start of their friendship.
The Best Song
The movie used the same songs as the broadway play but the one that stood out to me was Dancing Through Life performed by Johnathan Bailey’s character Prince Fiyero.
In the movie, not only was the song good but the choreography was amazingly done. I felt a boost of energy just watching it and even caught myself humming the song when I left the theater. Bailey did a great job with the speedy choreography and even the background characters harmonized with each other.
A movie that is over two hours long can sometimes be tiring but watching Dancing Through Life made me want more from Bailey’s character and kept me engaged in the movie.
Holding Space for Defying Gravity
The last song of the movie was Defying Gravity. The song really set the mood for the end of the movie and the upcoming part two of “Wicked.” It really spoke to me and everyone throughout the theater.
Seeing Elphaba run away from the flying monkeys and the Wizard of Oz was so nerve wracking and had me on the edge of my seat.
Even though I knew what was going to happen, I was still engaged. Close to the end, seeing how Glinda and Elphaba were singing the line “I hope you’re happy Now that you’re choosing this (you too) I hope it brings you bliss I really hope you get it and you don’t live to regret it I hope you’re happy in the end I hope you’re happy, my friend” to one another was so beautiful to watch.
Watching the two characters singing to one another so emotionally made me start tearing up just as well as almost everyone else in the theater where I heard others either tearing up as well or full on crying.
The movie did a great job capturing the challenges of a relationship between two polar opposites and adapting the Broadway musical. You will fill up with emotions of happiness, melancholy, and laughter when watching this movie. So whether you are a musical lover or not, watching “Wicked” will definitely feel like you have a change in your brain chemistry. Overall, I can’t wait to watch “Wicked part two” and so should everyone else.
