Directed by Jon M. Chu
Universal Pictures
This world does not deserve Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande or Jon M. Chu. The movie adaptation of Stephen Schwartz’s mega-hit musical Wicked will go down in history as one of, if not the best, movie musicals ever made. You will laugh, cry, and sit on the edge of your seat with your heart in your throat, even though you know exactly how this will turn out. Quite simply, Wicked is a revelation and a modern cinematic masterpiece.
From the moment Ariana Grande’s Galinda arrives via bubble in director Jon M. Chu’s reimagined Munchkinland until Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba defies gravity with her powerful belting, Wicked keeps its audience completely enthralled. The first movie in this two-part offering is faithful to the original stage musical. It provides a fresh perspective, further developing the relationships between characters—especially the bond between everyone’s favourite pair of witches.
I have been genuinely excited to see Cynthia Erivo in this film for over a year. I was fortunate enough to have seen her perform a Stephen Schwartz number Meadowlark (from his infamous flop The Baker’s Wife) at his 75th Birthday Gala at New York’s Metropolitan Opera in December 2023, where she stopped the show cold with a seven-minute standing ovation. She is an Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner and (for the next few months only, I suspect) is an Oscar away from an EGOT.
Erivo is perfection in Wicked and, in this role, proves herself to be that once-in-a-generation actress (think Meryl Streep level of talent). Elphaba’s opening number in Wicked is the traditional musical theatre “I want” number – The Wizard and I – an audition staple for actresses wanting to demonstrate their Broadway belt. Erivo shows us her full range – both vocally and in her acting and the way she interprets a song is a revelation. Indeed, a finer, more accomplished vocalist I don’t think exists – there is nothing this woman can’t sing. She has the innate ability to make you feel exactly what she wants you to think through the power of her voice. When you combine this with what she can convey with her eyes, this actress and singer is the absolute master of her craft. Her intensity does not waver throughout the entire movie.
She will absolutely break your heart in I’m Not That Girl and have you clapping your hands and wiping away tears of joy in One Short Day with partner in crime Ariana Grande, with whom she creates unmatched onscreen chemistry. In fact, forget Bogie and Bacall, Streisand and Redford and Meryl and every person she’s ever acted opposite. A new dynamic duo in town burns up the screen with passion, emotion, drama, fear, comedy and vocals from heaven.
The whole movie ultimately leads to ‘Defying Gravity,’ one of the most challenging songs in the musical theatre canon, which has bested many talented singers. Erivo not only sings it well; she sings it better than it has ever been sung before, making me feel as if I were hearing the Stephen Schwartz masterpiece for the very first time. Erivo is exciting to watch, and her performance throughout this film is nothing short of thrilling and must be seen to be believed.
Ariana Grande is perfectly cast as Galinda the Good. The trick with the film adaptation of Wicked would always be how to retain the comedy and magic without playing it bold and loud for the back row of a live theatre. This performance is nuanced and subtle and gives ‘movie Glinda’ much more emotional range and dynamic contrast than ‘stage Glinda’. It is tough for the audience not to fall in love with Grande’s delicate and gentle portrayal. Full disclosure: I cried happy tears when she made her first entrance, giggled with glee when she burst her bubble with her wand and then cried like a baby in the Ozdust Ballroom scene when Fiyero remarks that Elphaba doesn’t seem to care what anyone thinks of her to which Grande replies “of course she does – she just doesn’t show it” as her character has a moment of realisation. She plays the character with genuine sensitivity and care. Her ‘Popular’ isn’t like any other interpretation – it is uniquely her own. Towards the end of the movie, her inner turmoil is palpable as she is torn between Elphaba, her ambition and being a part willing participant/part victim of the manipulation at the hands of both Madame Morrible and the Wizard.
Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey is ridiculously handsome and charming as the ‘winkie prince’ Fiyero and manages to subdue the arrogance that can sometimes come across in previous iterations of this character in this role and remains an accurate and very likeable prince charming. His comic timing with Grande and Erivo is brilliant. His Dancing through Life is a bona fide scene stealer, complete with rotating set pieces, athletic choreography and a killer smile. We get a hint of the love triangle, which will climax in Wicked Part 2.
The supporting cast is superb—Michelle Yeoh’s Madam Morrible is wickedly deceitful, Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard is wonderfully flawed, and Ethan Slater, a very accomplished Broadway actor who I last saw play the title role in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical on Broadway, is sweet and naïve as the Munchkin Boq. Honourable mentions go to Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Peter Dinklage as the voice of Doctor Dillamond, Keala Settle from The Greatest Showman as the new character Miss Coddle, and the fabulously camp Galinda sycophants, Pfannee and ShenShen, hilariously played by Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James.
Wicked has played on Broadway for over 20 years and has made stars out of many of its alumni. In this movie, we see delightful little cameos and Easter eggs from stage stars, including Stephanie J. Block and Kerry Ellis, as well as a surprise appearance from composer Stephen Schwartz. The highlight of the cameos, however, is the original Broadway Elphaba and Glinda – Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth – in new material composed specifically for them by Schwartz. No spoilers, but watch for it; it had me smiling from ear to ear. (Side note: I can’t stand Idina Menzel; however, in this instance, she doesn’t disappoint or annoy me).
The Munchkinland and Emerald City sets are especially astounding. Their layout is almost the same as in the original 1939 Wizard of Oz movie, making them oddly familiar. Yet, production designer Nathan Crowley has elevated them to the point where they are works of art in themselves. The world of Oz in this iteration is more colourful, magical and wondrous than ever before and brought to life in a way I never thought possible. The entire design of the film is lush, rich and grand. The preview I saw was on a V-Max screen, and this film deserves to be seen on the most giant screen you can find!
Director Jon M. Chu has created movie magic. He has somehow managed to take one of the most popular musicals ever written and elevate it to thrilling and stratospheric heights. This movie will resonate with anyone who has ever felt that they’re not special. It is for anyone, gay or straight, who has ever been bullied. And it is for all of us nerdy, gay theatre kids who, at some stage in our lives, felt that we didn’t quite fit in, were unseen, unheard or misunderstood. This is a perfect cinematic experience and a love letter to musical theatre and its outcasts, oddballs and misfits. Everyone deserves a chance to fly, and Wicked shows exactly how high.
Wicked opens in Cinemas across Australia on 20 November.
Watch the BTS video from the World Premiere in Sydney on the Guidetogay.com Youtube Channel
In his past lives, Damien was a drag queen and musical theatre actor. He made his stage debut as a fat cow in a school production of Joseph in 1984. He holds a BA with a major in drama from the University of Newcastle. He is completely obsessed with musical theatre – especially Broadway divas.
Since relocating to Sydney at the beginning of 2024, he attends every musical he can get to and lives with his partner and grumpy 12-year-old poodle.
His claim to fame is that he once met Patti Lupone in New York and she was nice to him.