"Wicked" Defies Gravity

“Wicked” has long been one of the Holy Grails of Broadway musicals, and a movie adaptation has been anticipated for so long that nothing short of a masterpiece would please its many fans. It would be a difficult show to adapt to film. The stage production was known for its story and songs, yes, but it was also known for its spectacle; it is the kind of show where (under the right circumstances) a viewer watches from the audience, unable to believe that what they are seeing is actually being done on a live stage. In film, a witch flying on a broom isn’t impressive (nor is a huge, talking mechanical wizard head). Unless everything else was adapted just right, “Wicked” as a movie would fail to defy gravity.

Thankfully, despite early concerns (as well as potentially unrealistic expectations), I am happy to report that not only does Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked” defy gravity, it soars to become an instant classic and great entertainment for the ages. Like “The Sound of Music” and “Oliver!” before it, it will go down as great family entertainment that will be passed down from generation to generation, and future musicals will be inspired by its creativeness. The story, as you may have heard, tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West from “The Wizard of Oz” from the witch’s point of view.

That old saying that there are two sides to every story remains true here, where the witch (named Elphaba and portrayed with class and gravitas by Cynthia Erivo) isn’t so much a witch but, rather, an outcast who happens to have magic powers. Born green and with powers that she is unable to explain, she has been shunned by society until a teacher in a magical school (Michelle Yeoh) notices her talent and offers to teach her how to harness her powers. To attend classes, she will need a roommate though, and that falls into the lap of aspiring sorceress Galinda (Ariana Grande). The two have an instant ‘loathing’ for one another (fans will get it) and spend most of their days making each other miserable.

Through circumstances and some luck though, the two may ultimately become the best of friends. Though it has mostly been hidden from the public in marketing and interviews, “Wicked” is only ‘part 1’ of the story, and while those in the know had concerns about splitting the show into two parts (as well as making the first part longer than the entire stage production), I am happy to report that this was the right move to make. The movie neither feels too long nor unnecessarily overstuffed. In fact, by giving the first part more room to breathe, the movie can do what movies do best: delve deep into the personal lives of the characters in ways that the stage production cannot.

On stage, the characters are far from the audience and must strongly emote so that the people in the back of the theater can understand what is happening. In the movie, the camera is allowed to have close-ups of the characters and move at a pace that lets the audience soak up the emotions on screen better than they would be able to on stage. The director has masterfully taken all the best parts of the show and used the medium of film to give the story its own unique strengths in movie form.

The movie even features a star-making performance from Ariana Grande, who must now be looked upon as a serious actress from this point on. The only thing that prevents a perfect score is a runtime that doesn’t feel long (but will certainly try the patience of younger viewers) as well as the fact that this is only half the story. However, the ending is a little bit of perfection in its own way. If the movie fails to make enough money to justify a sequel (unlikely, as this movie is likely to be HUGE), viewers can move on to the classic “The Wizard of Oz” and continue the story that way. If the second part does get made, then we are all the better if it ends up being as great as this one is. Oh, there is also another dilemma: the songs are going to be stuck in your head for weeks.