"Wicked: For Good" is the second act of Jon M. Chu's movie adaptation of the bestselling Broadway musical, based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, further exploring the lives of and the relationship between Glinda Upland, played by Ariana Grande, and Elphaba Thropp, played by Cynthia Erivo.
Packed with emotional songs about love, loss and ambition, as well as thrilling sequences that showcase the world of Oz beyond the Yellow Brick Road, "For Good" mixes colorful set pieces and character designs with serious themes like discrimination and the cost of being deemed as different.
With the Wizard and Elphaba at odds due to Oz's treatment of its animal citizens, Elphaba is forced into hiding, working behind the scenes to rally the people of Oz against the Wizard and his anti-animal policies. Glinda, recruited by the Wizard and his loyal assistant, Madame Morrible, is caught at the crossroads between staying loyal to her former friend and taking the opportunity to impress the Wizard and ensure her position in Oz.
Elphaba's journey to becoming the Wicked Witch of the West humanizes the classic villain and narrates an Oz riddled with corruption, showing how discrimination and fear-mongering can lead to good people being taken advantage of and scapegoated.
The next sections of this review contain spoilers. For those who do not want to read further, the overall rating is a 7 out 10.
Highs
While new movies often rely on green screens and CGI to bring magic to the big screen, "Wicked: For Good" goes above and beyond with handcrafted and detailed set pieces.
Another high is the impressive acting across the cast, with standout performances by Erivo as Elphaba and Ethan Slater as Boq. For instance, in a scene where Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man walk through the Emerald City, encouraged by onlookers to "kill the Wicked Witch," Slater as the Tin Man balances the character's heartless nature with pure rage, leaving audiences with an eeriness that can be felt through the screen.
Another scene shows Elphaba, surrounded by her rescued flying monkeys, walking along the top of her castle singing "No Good Deed," an emotional ballad in which she attempts to save the life of her love interest, Fiyero Tigelaar, played by Jonathan Bailey. While part one's "Defying Gravity" will likely go down as the series' most impressive song, Erivo's rendition and sheer emotion in "No Good Deed" make it the closest thing in comparison.
While part one introduces the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda as complex and mean-spirited, part two is sincere in its depth, allowing for the two characters to come together as friends emotionally and naturally. Throughout "For Good," many of the songs from part one are reintroduced to parallel the character's circumstances, like Glinda reprising Elphaba's "I'm Not That Girl."
Another standout from the musical numbers is "For Good," in which Elphaba and Glinda sing to one another for the final time. This moment mirrors a similar scene from the finale of part one in which the characters are forced to accept that they will be separated. In the context of part two, this scene serves as an emotional send-off.
The movie ends on a satisfying note with a callback to the original stage play — a scene that feels impactful whether or not audiences catch the reference. In the end, the movie reasserts the importance of love, acceptance and how our relationships can change us.
Lows
While the movie thrives in its intricate and detailed set design mimicking the colorful magic of the original 1939 film, it lacks the emotional weight showcased in part one. This is partially because of the song selection.
While the front half of "Wicked" is made up of power ballads and tracks that had already made their way into the musical mainstream, such as "Defying Gravity" and "Popular," part two does not have the same big hits. Some songs, such as "No Good Deed," give audiences a glimpse back into the feeling the first part had but still fell flat overall in comparison.
Similarly, while part one had the freedom to explore the world of Oz before Dorothy's arrival, part two of "Wicked" felt constrained in its attempt to hit the story beats required to accurately unfold the events of the "Wizard of Oz," for which part one laid the foundation.
One scene near the beginning of the movie shows Boq, a Munchkin infatuated with Glinda and in a relationship with Elphaba's sister, Nessa, attempting to escape Munchkinland after Nessa's term as governor turns tyrannical. In this scene, the audience is shown how the Tin Man came to be. While the scene makes sense in the context of "The Wizard of Oz," Nessa's shift in personality from kind and ambitious to controlling and evil feels sudden and underdeveloped. Similarly, Boq's own transformation into the Tin Man, while downright horrifying, also feels rushed.
Another issue in the film is pacing. Throughout the movie, the audience is shown flashbacks of the main cast hanging out together in a field, insinuating that, beyond what the two movies have showcased, the five lead characters shared a close bond. While the scene was perhaps intended to emphasize the emotional weight of these characters at odds with one another, the attempt lacks the necessary buildup for audiences to feel upset.
Finally, while "Wicked: For Good" explores its themes of corruption, discrimination and oppression with a comedic tone, this reliance on keeping scenes light and laughable takes away from some of the impact these messages may have. One example is a scene where Elphaba and Glinda confront one another in front of Dorothy's house after the tornado. While funny, some of the themes feel lost.
Verdict
Despite falling short of part one in a handful of places, "Wicked: For Good" offers fans of the story a well-crafted and emotional finale.
Part two takes a unique and loyal approach to reimagining the world of Oz, satisfying both hardcore fans and casual viewers alike. Although a few scenes feel rushed and out of place, the movie overall sticks the landing.
Rating: 7 out of 10
