By Lynn Venhaus
A dazzling spectacle based on the 2003 Broadway musical fantasy, “Wicked: Part I” is overproduced and padded with unnecessarily stretched out musical numbers and extended scenes to present the popular culture phenomenon as only the first act in a 2 hour, 30-minute film.
After years in development, this long-awaited adaptation surely could have been pruned without affecting the story arc. The second act, “Wicked: Part II,” is set for a Nov. 21, 2025, release. Did it need to be this long? No. Is it worth your time? Yes.
With ‘wow factor’ production values and sensational performances, this vivid re-imagining of the Land of Oz is a must-see event best-suited for the big screen.
After opening Oct. 30, 2003, on Broadway, the beloved musical captured theatregoers’ fancy with its imaginative and sharp-witted story about the unlikely friendship between the Glinda the Good Witch of the North and Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West. It draws from the familiar mythology based on the classic 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” and L. Frank Baum’s series of 14 novels written between 1901-1917.
However, it is a prequel to those events, and takes place, for the most part, before farmgirl Dorothy Gale arrives from Kansas. But ‘Wicked,’ you see, is only a perception, and a misunderstood one at that. This inspired take fascinates with the green-skinned outcast Elphaba attending Shiz University, where she is taken on an unusual path, which leads to discovering her magical powers, and developing an unlikely friendship with her mean-girl opportunist roommate Glinda, first known as “Galinda.”
As college students, the pair are exact opposite in looks, temperament, personality and values. Loosely based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, the screenplay is adapted by Winnie Holzman, the original musical book writer, who smartly gave us so much to ponder, and and Dana Fox, whose most recent credit is “Cruella.” Holzman created the TV series “My So-Called Life” and wrote for the landmark TV series “thirtysomething” and “Once and Again.”
The centerpiece is the glorious songs – those heartfelt, soaring, beautifully crafted numbers from virtuoso composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz. He started his acclaimed five-decade career with “Godspell” in 1970, and has gone on to create “Pippin,” “Children of Eden,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “The Prince of Egypt,” and win an Oscar for “Colors of the Wind” from “Pocahontas.” This is arguably his masterpiece.
The film’s biggest strength is its perfectly cast triple-threat performers – Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, Ariana Grande-Butera as Glinda Upland and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, a handsome prince whose subplot is best not spoiled.
Erivo’s knockout voice is her superpower. She won a Tony Award in 2016 as Celie in “The Color Purple” revival, the only non “Hamilton” cast member to win a musical acting trophy that year. She proves herself to be a gifted actress, as she leans into sympathetic Elphaba’s differences as a proud badge of honor, especially in her newfound activism against injustice.
Grande has sold more than 90 million records as a pop star and appeared on Nickelodeon and Broadway. If you’ve seen Grande host “Saturday Night Live,” you know she has terrific comic timing and unforced charm. As a singer, she has a four-octave vocal range and in this role, she inhabits the spoiled rich girl with a self-deprecating humor. She looks dainty, but there’s an intriguing power and intelligence behind the bubbly façade.
The charismatic Bailey, Emmy-nominated for “Fellow Travelers,” is known as the oldest son Anthony in the “Bridgerton” TV series, but in England, he is also an accomplished musical theater performer. He won an Olivier Award as Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for playing Jamie in the revival of “Company” in 2018. Fleet-footed and a nimble vocalist, he gives Fiyero an allure that wasn’t initially apparent on stage. (Fun fact: St. Louis’ own Norbert Leo Butz, two-time Tony winner, originated the role in its San Francisco tryout and on Broadway).
Outstanding in supporting roles are Jeff Goldblum as the morally compromised Wizard of Oz, who handles “A Sentimental Man” quite nicely, Michelle Yeoh as no-nonsense Shiz headmistress Madame Morrible, and Peter Dinklage, in a voice-over, as an animal professor, Dr. Dillamond, who’s frightened in “Something Bad,” tipping us off to sinister political forces (shades of authoritarianism and fascism ahead).
There are more-to-develop turns by Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman, a Munchkin in love with Glinda, and Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Elphaba’s paraplegic younger sister. Slater was Tony-nominated and won a Drama Desk Award for his role as SpongeBob SquarePants in the 2017 Broadway musical. Stay tuned for some interesting twists with these two in Act 2.
New roles include Glinda’s fawning sycophants — Bowen Yang of SNL fame is Pfannee and Bronwyn James of CBS’ “Ghosts” is ShenShen.
As one who has seen the stage musical seven times, with an inaugural voyage to Chicago for the first national tour in May 2005 and the remainder at the Fabulous Fox in St. Louis, the film is faithful to the source material. (BTW, “Wicked” is considered “St. Louis’ favorite musical” after record-breaking runs here).
“One Short Day” is a grand introduction to the breathtaking art-deco Emerald City, Erivo’s emotional gravitas is displayed in “I’m Not That Girl,” and her humorous duet with Grande on a crisply delivered “What Is This Feeling?” is a highlight. Grande also shines in the peppy “Popular,” her signature song.
But the dramatic opener “No One Mourns the Wicked,” a too-heavy CGI-enhanced “The Wizard and I,” and an acrobatic “Dancing Through Life” set on library staircases are overstuffed. The choreography is in the contemporary style of elaborate and athletic dance moves with distinctive razzle-dazzle that is mega-staged for maximum effect.
That said, the defining showstopper, “Defying Gravity,” is everything you want it to be, an enthralling way to end, just before the curtain comes down on stage, but here with a “To be continued” card stunning the audience who doesn’t realize it’s only half.
Now the fourth longest-running musical of all-time, “Wicked” continues to draw packed houses in theaters around the world. While plans for a film adaptation started in 2012, the project did not kick off in earnest until 2021.
Jonathan M. Chu was hired to direct, after his successes with “Step Up 2 In the Streets,” “Step Up 3D,” “Crazy Rich Asians” and “In the Heights.” That was when it was decided to split the film into two parts to “meet the demands of the story’s epic scope and to expand upon the journeys of and relationships between the characters, without cutting any songs and major plot points” (I quote press here).
The second half is when more dark secrets and identities will be revealed, and features the moving “For Good” number. (No spoiler alert here, nor will I reveal cameos).
Highlights of Part 1 include the magnificent costume designs by Paul Tazewell, Tony Award winner for “Hamilton.” He must be the frontrunner for year-end awards, for each intricate outfit is stunning in detail.
The visual effects, while often over-the-top, are eye-popping. With today’s audiences conditioned for blockbuster franchise films, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Harry Potter series, and new “Star Wars” chapters, these are the flamboyant excesses people expect, but I find them overdone.
The everlasting appeal of “Wicked” will always be as a timeless tale of love and friendship, and its brilliant way of presenting the proverbial “two sides to every story.” Those who cherish the musical can find moments to savor.
“Wicked: Part I” is a 2024 musical fantasy directed by Jon Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande-Butera, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James. It is rated PG for some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material, and its runtime is 2 hours, 40 minutes. It opens in theatres Nov. 22. Lynn’s Grade: B+
Lynn (Zipfel) Venhaus has had a continuous byline in St. Louis metro region publications since 1978. She writes features and news for Belleville News-Democrat and contributes to St. Louis magazine and other publications.
She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic, currently reviews films for Webster-Kirkwood Times and KTRS Radio, covers entertainment for PopLifeSTL.com and co-hosts podcast PopLifeSTL.com…Presents.
She is a member of Critics Choice Association, where she serves on the women’s and marketing committees; Alliance of Women Film Journalists; and on the board of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. She is a founding and board member of the St. Louis Theater Circle.
She is retired from teaching journalism/media as an adjunct college instructor.
