LONDON – The long-awaited live-action film of the hit musical Wicked came out Friday in UK cinemas, and I had the chance to watch it in an immersive 3D 4DX viewing.
For those unaware, 3D makes it feel as though the film is jumping out at you, while 4DX lets you experience all the elements, such as rain and wind.
The 3D and 4DX experiences were captivating — from the bubbles emerging from the side of the screen as Glinda glides down in her magical bubble to the shaking seats as we fly with Elphaba away from Oz.
But the 3D glasses initially made the film appear blurry – whether that was a fault of my eyes, I’m not sure.
Leading up to the film’s release, I felt bombarded. There was marketing and interviews with two actresses – Cynthia Erivo, who played Elphaba and Ariana Grande, who played Galinda – plastered everywhere.
As someone who had never watched the original Wicked musical, I came in with fresh eyes. I absolutely adore the 2013 film Oz the Great and Powerful and was excited to see a film from Elphaba’s perspective, so please take my words with a pinch of salt!
From the outset, the colors were bright and vivid, from the vibrant hues of the Emerald City to the buildings of Shiz University. The contrast of pink and green represents the ideal witch, Glinda, and the outcasted wicked witch, Elphaba. This setup showcases the idealized world of Oz versus the reality of the cruelty that often occurs beneath its surface.
Grande’s comic one-liners and comedic timing were perfect – initially dubbed ‘Ga-linda’ for no particular reason, simply making fun of her narcissistic nature – she comes across as a self-absorbed aspiring sorceress with little talent to back her up. Meanwhile, Erivo’s Elphaba is an outcast, subjected to bullying by her peers and ostracised from society due to her green skin.
The plot starts with a twist, as the audience begins at the end, when the wicked witch is dead, and Glinda, the beloved good witch of Oz, describes the friendship the two once held. But the relationship between Erivo and Grande felt rather forced.
Glinda ultimately embodies self-absorption, perfectly highlighted in the song “Popular” where she asserts that Elphaba won’t be “more popular” than her.
Despite the film’s many strengths, clever writing could be found in the witty remarks sprinkled throughout, such as “I don’t see color,” delivering a perhaps realistic take on ignoring Elphaba’s marginalization because of her skin.
But I found the supporting characters largely unmemorable and not fleshed out enough. Marissa Bode, who plays Elphaba’s sister Nessarose, lacks development and instead becomes just a pity side character as Boz (Ethan Slater) pretends to fall in love with her.
The costumes, though, stood out, with a stark contrast between Elphaba’s dark wardrobe and sharp witch hat compared to Glinda’s bright, colorful, and primarily pastel pink dresses, complete with her characteristic hair flip.
A delightful surprise was the cameo from the original Broadway duo, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, delivering strong vocals that were a wake-up call for what felt like an initially dull first half of the movie.
The dance sequence between Elphaba and Glinda, where they first become friends however, had everyone in the cinema erupting in laughter, reminding me of some sort of chicken dance!
In a contemporary lense, the film touches on animal cruelty, showcasing Elphaba’s fight to defend the rights of entrapped animals. Representation doesn’t fall short either, with seemingly queer characters swooning over the handsome Fiyero, played by Jonathan Bailey, and Elphaba advocating for her disabled sister’s autonomy.
Ultimately, the film’s end note – Erivo’s strong vocals as she rises to become a powerful and wicked witch while singing her ballad “Defying Gravity – is memorable and moving. Sitting in the cinema’s shaking chairs had me feeling as though I was flying with Elphaba.
This powerful conclusion has me eager to watch Part 2, due to come out next year.
But with my expectations still high from Oz the Great and Powerful, this Wicked film doesn’t quite live up to the fictional spectacle of Oz that I imagined.
Anjola Fashawe is a Correspondent with Youth Journalism International.
