Wicked (2024 | USA | 160 minutes | John M. Chu)

It’s taken a long time, maybe twenty years, to get an adaptation of the popular novel by Gregory Maguire and more popular musical Wicked into theaters, and after seeing the film over the past weekend, it appears to be well worth the wait. The Wizard of Oz prequel is a dazzling and, yes, magical filmgoing experience. The more I think about this movie, the more I appreciate what the entire crew was able to accomplish, led by director John M. Chu, who also helmed Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights.

The Wicked story begins in Munchkinland where “good witch” Glinda (Ariana Grande) arrives to tell the entire community that the rumors are true, the Wicked Witch of the West is dead. She’s asked by an area girl if it’s true that Glinda and the Wicked Witch were friends, and thus begins a two-and-a-half hour explanation of how they went from rivals to frenemies to friends on their way to the Emerald City.

It all begins when Glinda (then Galinda) begins her undergraduate years at Shiz University. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), arrives on the same day. The once and future witch is an outcast who is only at Shiz to watch over her sister (Marissa Bode). She’d prefer not to be there, and her sister would prefer that, as well. The issue with Elphaba is that her skin is green. I think there’s an allegory in there somewhere about not judging people by the color of their skin.

Galinda envisions herself as the bell of every ball on campus, and carries herself as the chief Mean Girl. She’s even got a pair of hangers-on to follow her around and be catty (Bronwyn James and Bowen Yang). I do need to note that Bowen Yang is, obviously, very funny here, but he’s also a man in his mid-thirties. I understand it’s a weird thing to note an actor too old for his character in a movie that has no shortage of flying monkeys.

Anyway.

Problems arise when Galinda fails to win the favor of the nonplussed headmistress Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). Madame Morrible does, though, find a lot of potential in Elphaba. It’s only a few song-and-dance routines before Elphaba heads to the Emerald City for a visit with the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). She also takes along Glinda as her +1 (who makes the name change before boarding the train).

Wicked is, in every sense of the word, a true crowd-pleaser. The set designs are fantastic, with Munchkinland cool, Shiz U cooler, and Oz is positively wondrous. Most of the songs are showstoppers and Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are great. Even though I’ve seen her on “Saturday Night Live” a few times, I was impressed with Ariana Grande’s comedic timing. And Cynthia Erivo is the clear star.

I did have some quibbles with the film. I continue to be annoyed with entertainment that feels the need to sound like a moralizing after-school special with its politics that 99% of its audience already holds. Wicked is also very long. I think a good half hour could be cut without sacrificing the story, especially as this is a part one of two (part due is due about a year from now).

But Wicked knows what the people want, and it gives it to them. And I think it works.

_________________________________________________________

Wicked opens in theaters today, Thursday, November 21.