Movie Review: Wicked Part One

 Movie Number 37 of 2024

The Movie: Wicked (Part One)

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Stars: 4

I went into this blind. I've not seen the musical, as I'm a bit picky about the musicals I see. I also chose my session, going to the cinema on a Tuesday evening, hoping the theatre kids were happily ensconced in their music lessons and not anywhere near me in the cinema. I chose well. I could hear nobody singing along. 

Phew. 

Wicked picks up where The Wizard of Oz leaves off before Dorothy returns to Kansas. The Wicked Witch of the West is dead and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (Ariana Grande-Butera) is left to tell her story to the citizens of Munchkinland. 

You see, at school, Galinda, and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) the green-skinned, overlooked daughter of a local mayor, were roommates at school. The girls become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), their friendship reaches a crossroads.

I won't go too far into the plot. It's a musical, after all. But I was impressed by the performances of both of the lead characters, particularly Erivo, who gives great depth to the misunderstood Elphaba. Ariana Grande's Galinda is delicious. Rounding out the cast is Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, a love interest to both of the girls and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, the head teacher at the university who is not what she seems, and Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard. 

This movie is going to be nominated for some Oscars. The costumes, the scenery and the cinematography are all exceptional.

My one reservation, not being across the stage play or book - the musical on stage runs for three hours. The movies, split into two films, are running for well over five. How did this happen. 

I really enjoyed the film. I will see the second installment. It's great entertainment. 

Today's song: