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Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Written by: Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox; Based on the musical stage play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman; From the novel by Gregory Maguire
Running time: 160 minutes
MPA rating: Rated PG for some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.

Cynthia Erivo – Elphaba Thropp
Ariana Grande – Galinda Upland
Michelle Yeoh – Madame Morrible
Jonathan Bailey – Fiyero Tigelaar
Marissa Bode – Nessarose Thropp
Peter Dinklage – Doctor Dillamond
Ethan Slater – Boq Woodsman
Andy Nyman – Frexspar Thropp
Jeff Goldblum – The Wizard of Oz
Bowen Yang – Pannee
Bronwyn James – ShenShen
Courtney-Mae Briggs – Mrs Thropp
Sharon D. Clarke – Dulcibear

The iconic Broadway musical Evil finally makes the transition to the big screen with the first part of a two-part film. To clarify, the theatrical stage adaptation comes from Gregory Maguire’s original novel of the same name, a revisionist version of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Evil inverts the classic children’s novel, offering a story from the perspective of the villainous Wicked Witch of the West, here dubbed Elphaba Thropp. With the monumental task of pleasing both musical diehards and modern moviegoers alike, filmmaker Jon M. Chu successfully threads the needle, creating a satisfying experience that combines the whimsical energy of a live musical performance while taking advantage of the cinematic format.

An advantage of Evilunlike other recent film adaptations of popular Broadway musicals, its pace. Instead of trying to fill it all Evil in a single film, Chu wisely chooses to split the piece into two separate films, with the new film acting as Wicked, part oneas the film’s opening title card points out. The complete Evil The cinematic experience will be divided into two parts, just as the original play has two acts. The advantage of the two-act structure allows it First part to take his time fully developing his main characters, Elphaba Thropp (Erivo) and Galinda Upland (Grande), the mages destined to become The Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in The Wizard of Oz. Along with his exceptional protagonists, Chu provides incredible immersion in depicting and visualizing the whimsical, fantastic realm of Oz.

Credit to lead performers Erivo and Grande as they defy all expectations in their respective roles as Erivo and Grande, especially in Grande’s case. Erivo and Grande manage to capture the flare of their vibrant characters and handle the musical and lyrical elements with aplomb. Erivo brings lasting dignity and strength to Elphaba, but she is not afraid to showcase Elphaba’s sadness and vulnerability. Galinda is a challenging role as she represents the comedic side of the magical duo, but Grande hits the dramatic moments as well. One of the film’s most wonderfully intimate scenes features Elphaba dancing and being ridiculed by her Shiz University classmates during a sequence in the Ozdust Ballroom. It’s an important scene where Galinda finally recognizes the trauma she’s inflicted on her roommate, Elphaba, ultimately sparking their ill-fated friendship. Grande holds her own with the poignant, emotional moments. Both actors share a believable chemistry with their lead characters, a crucial element to the story of Evil.

All the actors in the entire cast disappear into their roles, except for two examples: Michelle Yeoh, as Madame Morrible; and Jeff Goldblum, as the legendary Wizard of Oz. It’s not that their acting is inferior, but their performances and dialogue lack a natural style that fits the Ozian style and world. Their performances aren’t bad, but they sometimes break from the film’s relatively successful sense of immersion.

The acting is excellent, especially during the musical numbers. Evil is incredibly shot and looks visually stunning. Production designer Nathan Crowley does an exemplary job fleshing out the world of Oz down to the smallest detail, conceptualizing how the intelligent animals would function as professors at Shiz University or workers at the Ozdust Ballroom. Cinematographer Alice Brooks showcases the musical numbers with a dynamic energy, while highlighting the elaborate, practical backdrops where the songs take place. The experience of Evil feels transportive and immersive. While Chu presents a world of intelligent, talking animals with computer-generated imagery, the visual effects serve the film by enhancing the story, rather than creating distractions that break immersion.

The film lasts over two and a half hours. At the same time, the subplot concerning the character Doctor Dillamond (Dinklage) plays out in an underdeveloped way, but it is one of the aspects that suffers from the two-act structure. Fairly various subplots from First part reach the finish line first Evil part two will hit theaters later next year. Hopefully Chu and his cast end things on a high note, because First part set a high bar. The good news is that Evil part 1 ending on a note of excitement for the conclusion.