In elementary school, my teacher showed my entire class the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, based on the book by L. Frank Baum. I was freaked out by Margaret Hamilton’s cackling, green-skinned version of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Little did I know that the iconic character was also featured in a 1995 novel, which was adapted into a popular Broadway musical. Of course, that musical is called Wicked.
The latest product of this extensive family tree is a film adaptation of the same name, which released on November 22nd. At first, I didn’t think much of it, since the trailer didn’t look too promising.
As time went on, Wicked became impossible to dismiss. I was suddenly bombarded with all manner of merchandise- laptops, makeup, and even Wicked macaroni and cheese. (It comes in either green or pink).
The hype was relentless and, to my uninformed mind, inexplicable. What was the film even about?
Wicked is a revisionist history of the fictional country of Oz, wherein the Wicked Witch of the West isn’t as malicious as she was in the original book. Glinda, the so-called good witch, is her narrative foil.
I still wasn’t sure whether to go see the film. It took several rave reviews from my friends for me to decide to go. I may not be one of the theater kids comprising Wicked’s fanbase, but I was determined to discover the reason behind the excitement.
Whether I truly discovered it is debatable. Wicked is a behemoth of a film with a nearly three-hour runtime, and it’s only a Part 1. Is the story’s bifurcation necessary? No. Did I still enjoy the first part? Yes, though probably not as much as some of my peers.
The story takes place at a vaguely scatological university, where Elphaba (the future Wicked Witch of the West) is dropping off her sister. Elphaba is ostracized for sharing a skin tone with spinach.
Then there’s Galinda, soon to rename herself Glinda, who is widely beloved for sharing a face with Ariana Grande. The two end up being resentful roommates.
Cynthia Erivo’s performance as Elphaba was the best one in the film. It was easy to sympathize with her, and (no hate to Ariana Grande), I could understand what she was singing.
Galinda’s comedic timing, and the hints of her airheaded exterior being a facade, were also entertaining. Her relationship with Elphaba was an interesting character dynamic.
Other noteworthy performances are Jonathan Bailey as a charismatic idiot and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz. While Peter Dinklage isn’t the GOAT of this film, he sure is good at being a goat.
Wicked’s plot has a lot going on. There’s a subplot about animal rights that seems like a non sequitur, but it works as a metaphor for advocating for other marginalized groups. There’s also an exploration of propaganda that doesn’t bother with subtlety.
And of course, there are countless links to the original Wizard of Oz book and film. Even the Yellow Brick Road gets an origin story. I’m certain some of the callbacks went over my head.
The film’s musical aspect could have been done better. There are some good songs, but the film has an unfortunate habit of jumping back and forth between singing and normal dialogue for many of them. This also makes it seem as if the music is diegetic- and considering what Oz is like, it could be. Still, the effect is jarring.
The cinematography and set design is commendable, as is the costume design. However, Wicked could definitely be more impressive when it comes to lighting and color grading.
The film is full of irony. For instance, Glinda promises to tell the “whole story,” when the movie ends with a “To Be Continued” title card.
Various parts of Wicked took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting simian body horror or the aforementioned animal rights subplot. By far the most surprising part was Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship. I was expecting them to end the film as bitter enemies, but what I got was more nuanced.
From its length to its marketing to its bizarre press tour, every aspect of Wicked seems excessive. The sheer amount of people in the credits left me boggling vacantly at the screen. There are times when the enormity of the movie gets overwhelming, and certain moments could be more concise.
However, in spite of the excess- or perhaps because of it- Wicked is relentlessly entertaining. The jokes are funny, the visuals are usually impressive, and it delivers several themes to chew on.
Though Wicked may not have fully lived up to the hype, there’s the possibility that Wicked: Part Two will. Fans of the first movie are already waiting for its release. Surprisingly, I am too.
