Wicked: For Good Review – Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Shine Again

Wicked: Ford Good Returns to Oz after a long wait.

It’s been a long year since Cynthia Erivo belted out those final notes of Defying Gravity shortly before the words “To Be Continued” were stamped in gold across screens marking the end of ‘Wicked: Part I.‘ Fans can rejoice as ‘Wicked: For Good’ is finally here, presenting the second act of Elphaba and Glinda’s story in film form, which is sure to delight fans of the hit musical despite its imperfections.

The smash musical is considerably frontloaded, with most of the favorite moments and iconic songs taking place in the first act, while the second act is regarded as a bit more rushed and messy. It makes sense that the film covering the second act maintains some of those issues, but the 137-minute runtime gives the story more space to breathe.

Raising the Stakes in Oz

The tale picks up after some time has passed since the conclusion of Part I. Elphaba (Erivo) is now widely feared and hunted as the Wicked Witch of the West, thanks to some clever marketing by the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).

Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande) has become a symbol of hope to the people of Oz, while her fiancé, Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), has been promoted to Captain of the Wizard’s Guard. Elphaba and Glinda’s secret friendship is put to the test after an unexpected arrival in the Land of Oz: Dorothy Gale from Kansas.

A Second Act Light on Standout Songs

One of the glaring issues ‘Wicked: For Good’ runs into is the lack of notable music numbers in this chunk of the story. Despite a few attempts at new, original numbers to help fill the gaps, none really make an impact. For Good is a particularly strong number showcasing the talents of both Erivo and Grande. Additionally, No Good Deed is courageously performed by Erivo.

Erivo and Grande, whose performances in the first film were widely acclaimed, maintain their chemistry and charm in the conclusion. Erivo is wonderful, but Grande in particular is absolutely magnetic as Glinda. It’s the showier role, with Glinda acting as both Elphaba’s secret ally and a public figure basking in the attention she receives. It’s just a shame that Glinda isn’t given any truly memorable musical moments that reach the heights of Popular in the first film. Grande still makes the absolute most of every moment captured on screen.

Jonathan Bailey’s Strong Turn as Fiyero

Jonathan Bailey also gives a particularly noteworthy performance as Fiyero. Fiyero has evolved from someone just dancing through life based on good looks and charisma into a more fleshed-out character facing a true dilemma. Bailey does a great job of maintaining his stardom through a more emotional performance.

To his credit, director John M. Chu seems to have really nailed the tone and look of the film adaptation of the beloved musical. The costuming and production design remain off the charts, although the second film has considerably more computer-generated effects, especially given the emphasis on the animal liberation storyline.

Story Threads That Still Feel Rushed

The story elements themselves leave a little to be desired. Elphaba is constantly flip-flopping between exposing the wizard, freeing the animals and tending to her sister, Nessarose (Marisa Bode), who has taken on the role of Governor of Munchkinland with Boq Woodsman (Ethan Slater) doomed to serve her. Some of these threads still seem rushed and underserved, despite the lengthier runtime the movie allows, while other plotlines overstay their welcome.

As for the Dorothy of it all, I was worried the second film would play even more into the events of the original ‘The Wizard of Oz’ storyline in the film adaptation. However, Dorothy’s story remains parallel with the events of Wicked, and the emphasis is still on Elphaba and Glinda. Dorothy’s face is never shown, and the movie never loses focus on the main characters.

Verdict

‘Wicked: For Good’ doesn’t solve any of the problems that come with covering the second act of the hit stage musical. However, it still manages to make some changes for the better to stand on its own. While not all of the flaws are impossible to ignore, it’s still an overall winning production due to confident directing and two stellar leads.

Wicked: For Good released on November 21st.

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