The PG film Wicked: Part 1 is an adaptation of the Broadway musical, Wicked, whose unique perspective changes how we see the lovable Galinda and evil Elphaba. On Nov. 22, 2024, the movie was released to theaters, its popularity only rising since then. Currently, it sits at the top as the highest-grossing musical adaptation, according to TheaterMania.
Director Jon M. Chu, known for directing Crazy Rich Asians (2018), led this wondrous experience with the help of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Galinda or Glinda, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and many other talented actors.
Erivo plays the main character, Elphaba, who is introduced as the misunderstood intellectual because of her green skin, which is deemed “off” by the other Ozians. We first see this taste of prejudice upon her entrance at Shiz, the university where the movie’s setting heavily remains. Elphaba’s younger sister, Nessarose, is joining the school when Elphaba arrives, but Elphaba only chooses to attend Shiz herself after she accidentally reveals her magic. Through her experience at Shiz, Elphaba meets the bubbly and popular Galinda, deemed as Glinda. They begin as rival students, but at the Ozdust Ball, Elphaba and Galinda discover how truly similar they are, and from then on, they are best friends.
Their friendship is continually emphasized by the subtle moments that pass between the two. They hold hands and follow each other everywhere. Eventually, they travel to the Emerald City together to meet The Wizard. But, once Elphaba discovers The Wizard’s true evil intentions, Elphaba and Galinda begin to break apart. They discover they both strive for different things: Elphaba wishes to separate herself from The Wizard and Madame Morrible while Galinda wants to access magic, which she finds she can only learn through Madame Morrible.
The movie ends with a cliffhanger as Elphaba becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, separating the two best friends, but the actors’ emotions clearly describe how they continue to hold each other dearly, treasuring the friendship they share. In the song “Defying Gravity,” which Elphaba and Galinda sing together at the end, the characters’ love for each other shines brightly through their lyrics and body language. Their line, “I hope you’re happy,” shows that they find the departure painful, but they wish the best for each other; heartfelt expressions prove this love further by the tearful smiles.
Erivo and Grande capture their characters’ emotions through their touching friendship and tremulous separation. Their voices are consistently beautiful as well, encapsulating the story and feelings into the lyrics to move each viewer who hears them. The storyline moves at a relaxed pace, giving even more detail than the play, whose entire production was as long as Wicked: Part 1. Each scene develops the story perfectly and fits like a puzzle, with each plot point is supported by numerous details.
It is abundantly clear that friendship is a main theme in the movie, considering the direct focus on how Galinda and Elphaba bonded over their individual rejections. Mixed with friendship, loneliness is intertwined. Elphaba is physically lonely and Galinda is mentally lonely since her peers don’t emotionally care about her. But other themes follow suit, tangling with this theme of friendship to create the story of Wicked. Prejudice maintains a large theme through Elphaba’s green skin being an obvious show of discrimination. The animals are another example, considering Elphaba’s abhorrence against the Wizard has to do with his prejudice and attack on the speaking animals in Oz. Betrayal is mixed with this theme of prejudice — plus Galinda’s abandonment of Elphaba’s wishes, and The Wizard’s abuse of Elphaba — all betray the part of Elphaba that once trusted them.
The movie’s best qualities are the heartfelt emotions that tugged the viewers’ heartstrings, but its comedy adds compelling joy as well. Erivo and Grande play their parts perfectly to encapsulate a beautiful friendship between their characters. Their detailed acting leads to a heartbreaking betrayal and isolation, forcing you to feel the emotions of every character and song note. Despite the heavy elements, the movie maintains an uplifting feel through its comedy. Many hilarious scenes are delivered by Glinda due to her ditzy personality, which adds to the comedy.
Despite the impressive writing, according to Medium, the movie lacks many impertinent aspects. Viewers have claimed the lighting is washed out, giving a dull appearance to the scenes. The director, Chu, has argued that the lighting is designed this way to make the film feel realistic. Many watching still complain about the desaturated look of the characters’ clothing and setting, planting this as the number one critique of the popular movie.
Overall, the movie has earned a 7.7 out of 10 on IMDB, but personally, the film deserves a 9.4 out of 10. The beauty of the movie outweighs any negative issues. While the lighting has raised plenty of complaints, the plot and acting of the movie are done exceptionally well. The costume design and cinematography add to the film, making viewers gaze in awe at the craftsmanship displayed on the characters or around them on set. Wicked is a bright masterpiece for screens around the world, and the second part is sure to match the achievements of Part 1, if not surpass them.
