‘Wicked: For Good’ is Good, but Doesn’t Cast as Strong a Spell as First Film. It’s time to return to Oz with “Wicked: For Good,” the follow-up to last year’s incredibly popular “Wicked.” And while this movie doesn’t quite soar like the first one, it’s still a wickedly good time.
Jon M. Chu (“Wicked”) returns to the director’s chair for the big-screen adaptation of the second act of the long-running Broadway musical.
Just like the second half of the show, “Wicked: For Good” is a darker and more emotional story with good, but less catchy music. The film also has a decent dose of “Wizard of Oz” references that, surprisingly, don’t always fit in neatly.
When we last visited Oz, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) was defying gravity on her broomstick, having realized the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) wasn’t so wonderful. Now branded as “The Wicked Witch of the West,” Elphaba is living in the forest as an outcast who is determined to expose the truth about the Wizard. Meanwhile, Glinda (Ariana Grande) has fully embraced being the spokesperson for the Wizard’s propaganda machine and spreading goodness to the citizens of Oz. Things are very different than their time at Shiz.
Erivo and Grande were the biggest sources of magic in the first “Wicked” film, thanks to their amazing performances. They again deliver the goods for Part Two. Erivo is a powerhouse, bringing raw emotion to Elphaba. Glinda has a bigger, more layered role this time around, giving Grande more opportunities to show her acting chops. Grande tapped into her natural comedic timing in the first film, but here she gets to be emotional—and she nails it.
“Wicked: For Good” doesn’t have the big show-stopping song-and-dance numbers of the first film, but it still has beautiful musical numbers, thanks in big part to Erivo and Grande. The two new songs written for the film by “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz are good, but “The Girl in the Bubble” (sung by Grande) is better than “No Place Like Home.”
The visuals have the same pastel aesthetic as the first film, but what really pops off the screen are the colorful, detailed costumes and the larger-than-life set pieces that transport you to the land of Oz. Glinda’s Art Deco-style apartment was gorgeous.
The movie leans more heavily into the themes of oppressive regimes and the dangers of propaganda, and it does an acceptable job as a warning against both.
Fans of the musical, who know what to expect in this half of the story, will likely have few complaints when it comes to “Wicked: For Good.” It might not shine as bright as the first film, but it’s still an enjoyable, heartfelt production.
Wicked: For Good
Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum
137 minutes
In theaters Nov. 21
Ashley Carter is a journalist with extensive experience covering entertainment. She is a member of the Critics Association of Central Florida and reviews movies on her YouTube channel Ashley Talks Movies.
