Synopsis
The cinematic adaptation of Wicked arrives as a massive two-part event, promising to tell the untold story of the Witches of Oz. We follow the origins of Elphaba and Glinda, watching their unlikely friendship form in the halls of Shiz University before crumbling under the political weight of the Wizard’s regime. What begins as a colorful musical about misunderstood outcasts eventually morphs into a dark, political prequel that desperately tries to set the stage for the classic 1939 film.
What I Liked
- It embraces the “musical” identity perfectly (at first) I am a fan of the genre—from Chicago to La La Land—and when Wicked leans into its theatrical roots, it soars. The colors, the “sparkling” energy, and the sheer scale of the spectacle are delightful. It initially refuses to be cynical, delivering a vibrant, excited world that feels alive.
- Ariana Grande’s “Pink Life” Energy The highlight of the experience is the specific tone struck by Glinda. Grande captures a character who is shallow, popular, and obsessed with surfaces—a “pink life” attitude that is both funny and technically precise. It was this lightness that gave the story its heartbeat.
- The tragic premise remains strong The core idea—how a naive, good person is mechanically turned into a “villain” by society—is still a potent narrative hook. The setup of this duality, exploring the gray areas between “good” and “wicked,” provided a strong foundation.
What Could Be Better
- The obsession with “connecting the dots” The second half suffers from a severe case of Prequel Syndrome. The film becomes distracted by the need to explain the origins of everything in The Wizard of Oz—from the Tin Man to Dorothy herself. These moments feel like “winks” to the audience, a way of showing off rather than telling a story. It turns the narrative into a checklist of references that, frankly, nobody needed explained.
- A tonal identity crisis The transition from the “sparkling” first half to the “grim and terrifying” conclusion feels jarring. The film tries to pivot into a serious, adult political drama about authoritarianism, but the characters are too simple to carry that weight. You can’t build a world on candy-colored whimsy and then expect the audience to suddenly invest in a gritty political tragedy.
- Simplicity masquerading as depth Despite the heavy themes, the characters remain surprisingly flat. Elphaba and Glinda are trapped in repetitive cycles—one forced to be “bad,” the other maintaining a facade of “good.” The struggle is stated, but rarely felt with the “crispiness” or sharp humor that a more mature script would have delivered.
My Insight
There is a difference between storytelling and lore-building.
Wicked succeeds when it is telling its own story—the relationship between two complex women in a magical school. It fails when it tries to become a “history textbook” for the 1939 movie.
We see this often in modern franchises: the belief that the audience cares more about how the Tin Man was created than they do about the characters standing in front of them. It is a fundamental misunderstanding of why we love stories. We don’t want the mechanics of the magic explained to us; we want to feel the magic itself. When you prioritize the “wink” to the fans over the emotional logic of the scene, you lose the very thing that made the world special.
Rating🌟6/10
A visually stunning musical that forgets that its greatest strength was its joy, not its connection to Dorothy.
For Discussion
Does knowing the “origin story” of iconic characters (like the Tin Man) actually enhance the original work, or does it demystify the world to the point of boredom?
Related Works
- Hamilton (2020, Film) – A musical that handles complex politics without losing its rhythmic joy.
- Chicago (2002, Film, Rob Marshall) – Proof that a musical can balance cynicism, “showbiz,” and adult themes without losing its entertainment value.
- Better Call Saul (2015–2022, TV, Vince Gilligan) – The gold standard for prequels. It explains a moral downfall (Jimmy to Saul) through character choice, not just by checking boxes for the original series.
Technical Info
- Type: Movie Duology
- Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande
- Genre: Musical / Fantasy Prequel
- Recommendation: Watch it for the “Pink” energy of the first half; treat the lore-heavy conclusion as optional.
