In 2003, “Wicked” struck the Broadway stage. After its Broadway debut, “Wicked” quickly became one of the most successful Broadway shows of all time, being seen by more than 65 million people across the globe, according to the official Broadway site.
After being a hit on Broadway, fans were long awaiting a movie adaptation, which was announced in 2012. Finally, after 12 years of anticipation, and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, the movie version of “Wicked” was released on November 22, 2024.
The musical is based on the life of the Wicked Witch of the West from “The Wizard of Oz,” named Elphaba Thropp. The movie begins just after her demise in the original 1939 film, as the Good Witch of the North – Galinda Upland – sheds light on Elphaba’s origin story. While the musical isn’t technically canon, it offers a unique background on the story behind the classic film.
The movie itself is a perfect mix of music, action, fantasy, romance, and drama.
Not only is it incredibly entertaining, it consists of a talented and well-known cast. Some familiar names are Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Peter Dinklage, and Jeff Goldblum. Everyone in this film gave stellar performances.
However, I have mixed opinions on the casting when it comes to vocal ability. While the main cast sounded amazing, I was slightly disappointed in the actors they chose for the Wizard and Madame Morrible. Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh are very talented actors, but I do not think their voices were strong enough to keep up with the rest of the cast.
Besides that, the songs in this movie are very well-written and sound stunning. Highlights include Eviro’s slightly-revised version of “Defying Gravity,” Grande and the cast’s gorgeous rendition of “No One Mourns the Wicked,” and Grande’s iconic performance of “Popular.”
I was especially impressed with the performances from Grande and Ervio, who played Glinda and Elphaba. While everyone knows that these women are very strong vocal artists, it was impressive to see them sing such difficult songs while acting. This movie overall was really well cast.
Another aspect from the film that I enjoyed was seeing the connections to the Wizard of Oz. Many prequels or sequels separate themselves too heavily from the original, but that is not the case with Wicked.
The musical included pieces of “The Wizard of Oz,” like the flying monkeys, the yellow brick road and an extremely-brief cameo from the original four, all of which bring back memories of the original Oz.
Learning about and seeing a different side of the Wicked Witch of the West was one of the best parts of the film for me. The plot helps remind viewers that someone perceived as the villain in another story may have been misjudged or had a reason for their anger. It also shows how much power specific people have, and how those people can misuse their power.
Overall, I loved the film. It was honestly one of the best musicals I have ever seen and I would certainly watch it again. I look forward to the release of the second act, “Wicked: For Good,” in late 2025 – and I know it will not disappoint.
All in all, “Wicked” was my favorite movie of 2024 by far, and I would absolutely recommend going to see it.
I rate “Wicked” a 5/5.
