‘Wicked’ review: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande shine in sumptuous adaptation

On November 21, 2024By Littum

It’s the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.

Oh, she may have been vindictive and terrifying in “The Wizard of Oz.” But something changed – like REALLY changed – on the way from the Yellow Brick Road to the Great White Way. Every night since 2003, crowds have packed into “Wicked” at Broadway’s Gershwin Theater to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises on her broomstick to belt out “Defying Gravity,” the enduring girl-power anthem.

How many people have seen “Wicked”? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have “Wicked” the movie, director Jon M. Chu’s lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour-long) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie – Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.

Before we get to what this movie does well (the big numbers! The costumes!), just consider a few trickier questions. Will this “Wicked,” driven by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a bubbly, comedic, hair-raising Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?

This photo released by Universal Pictures shows Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande in a scene from the movie “Wicked.” (Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures via AP)

Difficult question. Some people just don’t buy into the music and they should be allowed to live freely among us. But if people breaking into song delights you instead of confuses you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fabulous nightclubs and emerald-colored cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love “Wicked,” well, you will probably love this movie. If it feels like they earned the best “Wicked” movie money could buy – well, that’s because they did.

Much credit for that goes to Chu, who has said he spent so many years working on it “Evil” that three of his five children were born during that time. Chu definitely has musical theater in his DNA, as we already knew from “In the Heights.” His actors don’t break awkwardly into composer Stephen Schwartz’s famous pop show tunes: they run headlong into them and sometimes blow the roof off with them.

Another question: Will people be turned off when they watch “To Be Continued” at the end, after two hours and 40 minutes, and realize they have to wait a year for part 2? Also tricky. This definitely COULD have been one movie. But how would they have followed “Defying Gravity,” which brings the Act 1 curtain (and house) down on the show? It’s hard to imagine just continuing with the plot.

This photo released by Universal Pictures shows Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande, with director Jon M. Chu, right, on the set of the movie “Wicked.” (Universal Images via AP)

This photo released by Universal Pictures shows a scene from the movie “Wicked.” (Universal Images via AP)

Yes, the plot: We begin with Grande’s Glinda descending to Munchkinland in her glittering bubble, which since 1939 has been upgraded with a comfortable couch, to announce that the Wicked Witch is indeed dead.

But someone challenges Glinda: Is it true that you were her friend? Well, um, yes, Glinda replies cautiously. Their paths crossed – back in school.

Cue opening day at Shiz University. Glinda – yes, for now, Galinda “with a ga” – an aspiring witch major, arrives in her pink suit looking like a cross between Grace Kelly and Elle Woods. She already has a fan base and a private suite.

Elphaba also arrives to help her sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode) settle in. The students are horrified by her green skin. But when Imperial Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), Dean of Witchcraft at Shiz, catches a glimpse of Elphaba’s untapped magical powers, the green girl becomes her prized student.

his photo released by Universal Pictures shows Marissa Bode, seated, center, and Cynthia Erivo in a scene from the movie “Wicked.” (Universal Images via AP)

Elphaba hopes that her wizardry lessons will lead to an encounter with the all-powerful Wizard of Oz, whose glorious head is carved into the campus and who she secretly hopes will grant her wish to be “de-greened”. She sings about this desire in “The Wizard and I,” a lovely track that introduces Erivo’s uniquely supple vocals.

Another upbeat track, “What is this Feeling?” introduces the “hideous, unadulterated loathing” between Elphaba and Glinda, who are forced to be together. These early songs have lightning-quick appeal, and the best is “Dancing Through Life,” a raucous dance number that showcases the sheer charm of local prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey of “Bridgerton,” dripping with charm), who proudly encourages fellow students to join him in his superficiality.

“Life is more painless, for the brainless,” sings Bailey, accompanied by acrobatic dancers on huge, coordinated “tornado wheels” in a fabulous library. “Life is less full when you are mindless.” Fiyero will evolve into something else in part 2. For now, he woos Glinda and befriends Elphaba.

But “Wicked” is about female friendship, and the sudden, surprising bond between polar opposites Glinda and Elphaba — chirpy vs. deep, pink-clad vs. dressed in black. In the lovely makeover song “Popular,” Galinda’s tour de force, Grande swings from the chandelier, kicks like a can-can dancer, and struts around in a to-die-for bedroom set that includes pink sequined shoes that pops out of nowhere.

Erivo’s tour de force? That would be “Defying Gravity,” the show’s huge signature song that comes as the mood has shifted to something far more ominous. Both young women are in the Emerald City, where they – or at least Elphaba, have discovered that the wizard is not powerful and benevolent, but more like Jeff Goldblum – charming and weak with a big, dark secret.

“So if you want to find me,” Elphaba says, having discovered the power of her broomstick, “look to the western sky.” Where exactly is she going?

Hold that thought. For exactly one year.

“Wicked,” a Universal Studios release, has been rated PG by the Motion Picture Association “for some frightening action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.” Playing time: 160 minutes. Three stars out of four.