Wicked has dictated the entire year for me! I saw the stage production for the first time ever in the summer, then read the original 1995 book and have now embraced the long-awaited movie adaptation. Wicked may not be the greatest movie of the year, but it is definitely the best experience! Its immersive spectacle, spellbinding songs and love for its origins will entice audiences relatively novice around the subject or have adored it for years.
I am someone who will bang the drum for the musical genre no matter what, but I will admit, they’re not for everyone. In fact, they are arguably the hardest to adapt due to a dramatic shift in medium. Theatre doesn’t manipulate the imagination like film does: with the former, you’re always aware it’s not real.
The film, by contrast, is a magic trick, not only in adding three dimension to the stage sets, but also add a more intense interpersonal communication with viewers with the singing and performances. There are some that have done this well, like Spielberg’s West Side Story, but others haven’t. I reference Les Miserables because that is my personal favourite West End production and I was left disappointed with its movie version. Both Wicked and Les Mis feature live singing from it’s cast and yet Wicked makes its sound amazing.
I guess that shouldn’t be a surprise because we have an ensemble of lifelong singers, but to hear some of the most beloved music from theatre not saturated for the benefit of visceral performances is refreshing. It’s also lovely to see something, unlike Les Mis, that allows for long, unbroken tracking shots to show off the visuals, not off-putting quick cuts. I adored the way they filmed Dancing Through Life, which was my personal favourite of the songs (not Defying Gravity, may God have mercy on me!), with uninterrupted editing and visually pleasing choreography in full view. In fact, most of the numbers were filmed well – none making me annoyed with choppy editing.
For a while, I was reserved on the casting of the two leads but I was gradually won over. Cynthia Erivo does a fine job as Elphaba, although much of that comes from her vocals and the way she can hold the notes. Outside of that, it took a while to get into her performance as she seemed one note. Blissfully, the intent settled in and she portrays the conflict of her not-so Wicked Witch of the West very well.
Ariana Grande was astounding, which I say having never seen her act before. She effortlessly portrayed the ditsy mean girl but provided a lot of nuance. Dare I say, whilst Erivo did the job well, it’s Grande who the movie cannot do without. She lit up the screen every time she entered.
Johnathan Bailey is chef’s kiss casting for Fierro and a pure standout. He embodies every stereotype of a Disney prince and looks as though he’s having the time of his life while doing. On top of that, Fierro was my favourite character in the play as he serves as a component of Wicked’s revisionist narrative.
One flaw is that Wicked’s soundtrack may be off putting to theatre lovers with its pop music mix. It’s not as big of a distraction as feared and it actually helps with the atmosphere of Defying Gravity, but I will always prefer the realm of West End harmonies. Also, a pet peeve have with big budgeted movies these days is that they ALL seem to have an overemphasised lighting and grey saturation in their colours. This particularly hurts because this is a spin off from the icon of Technicolour. This has to change now!
Wicked is also a part one story, so a lot of it can feel like set up. But, with the stage production fresh in my head, I cannot think of any forced sequences used purely to stretch the runtime. It feels very much like an epic where the runtime is noticed but not a burden. Part two was the weaker watching the stage show, so I hope the filmmakers approach with the same care in pacing as they did with this one.
Whether you are a novice to the story or a longtime lover, Wicked is very transfixing. It does what musicals do well: entice the audience. A few were even clapping at the end! Grab your broom and see if this experience gives you the chance to fly…
