By: Megha Pendyala
Here it is, Broadway fans! Our very own adaptation of Wicked, but how good is it actually? Starring high profile actors like Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo, and more, this adaptation has taken the film world by a storm. Surprisingly enough, this two hour and forty minute-long movie is the first part of two. The second part will be released in fall 2025. Now, for average folk like me who haven’t seen the actual musical, I’m going to rank this based on the story portrayed, not accuracy or adherence to the book or musical.
The cinematography of Wicked is something exotic and striking. The director wanted the set to look as realistic as possible, leading to them building many of these sets instead of using greenscreens and CGI. I’d say it paid off. The charming backgrounds and magical scenery only enhances the movie’s whimsical vibe, layering onto this fairy tale twist.
When I heard that Ariana Grande would be portraying the main character of Glinda, I didn’t have many high hopes. With her music career influencing her reputation, it’s easy to forget she has acting experience. However, when watching Wicked, I was pleasantly surprised to be engaged with her whenever she was on screen. She was funny and portrayed the vain, superficial protagonist in a compelling way. Additionally, Cynthia Erivo put on a heart-tugging portrayal of the misunderstood Elphaba. And Jonathan Bailey? He was the best, enough said.
Onto the plot. As someone who hasn’t watched the musical, it was my first time experiencing the story. It was surprising in the way that its plot neatly intertwined with the Wizard of Oz. There were even plot twists that surprised me. However, this movie was just too long. At some points it felt like it was dragging, which is the worst thing in a movie.
The soundtrack for this movie was, obviously, what stood out. With famous songs like “Popular” and “Defying Gravity” as its ending finale, the soundtrack gets full credit!
Overall, I’d rate Wicked four stars out of five. It’s a fun movie to watch with your family and enjoy if you have a couple hours off!