Arguably the most popular movie of the season, “Wicked” was released on Nov. 22, 2024, though the film was originally slated for release on Nov. 27, 2024. However, because “Wicked” competed with the release dates of two other major movies, “Moana 2” and “Gladiator 2,” the movie was moved to not conflict with the other releases.
The movie opens in the beautiful world of Oz, over the poppy fields of Munchkinland. Canonically, it begins right after Dorothy melts the Wicked Witch of the West, just like in the original 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.” In the beginning scene, we see a puddle of water accompanied by the famous hat donned by the Wicked Witch of the West, and even get a shot of the infamous winged monkeys as they escape Elphaba’s tower. I thought this was a great way to tie in the two movies, even though the first part of “Wicked” is there to explain who the Wicked Witch of the West really is. We even see the silhouettes of Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion. It served as a good teaser to get the audience excited for the second act.
As the camera pans over the poppy fields, which were also a famous location in “The Wizard of Oz,” several munchkin children race back to town on the yellow brick road. We are then introduced to one of the main characters of “Wicked,” Glinda.
Glinda, the “Good” witch, is played by actress and pop star Ariana Grande. The casting was a controversial take for some considering that Grande is known for starring in Nickelodeon shows “Sam & Cat” and “Victorious.” Grande has also released several pop albums over her career. I felt like Grande played the character well, and her voice was unmatched when it came to singing theatrically. Grande started her career in the Broadway show “13: The Musical” which gave her the experience to bring Glinda’s character to life. The beautiful costumes and her raw emotion made the opening scene that much more gut wrenching.
As the munchkins celebrate the death of the terrifying wicked witch, Glinda drops to Munchkinland in her pink bubble. Overall, the visual effects and color felt similar to the 1939 film. It felt alive, especially as the camera zoomed in on the poppy fields in the aforementioned first scene. The bright pops of color were fitting, considering the original movie was one of the first color movies in cinema history.
The first song in “Wicked” is “No One Mourns the Wicked” which starts as the munchkin ensemble takes down all of the propaganda of the witch that had been displayed prior. It was a haunting tune filled with revelry but a touch of sadness from Glinda. As the song increases, it becomes more intense, and Glinda is encouraged to burn a wooden statue of the witch. At the end of the song, she is asked by a young munchkin girl if she was friends with the witch; this prompts a flashback, and the movie takes the audience back in time.
At the beginning of the flashback, we meet Galinda (yes you read that right, her name is Galinda, not Glinda), a wealthy girl who is excited to start at Shiz University. Shiz is a well known school in Oz for its unique layout; you must enter the school by water. This created a whimsical feel as Galinda sailed to her new school on a boat filled with her many belongings. Furthermore, both human and animal teachers have taught at Shiz, though fewer animal teachers have stayed over the years which later becomes a central plotpoint.
Right after we meet Galinda, we are introduced to Elphaba, played by actress Cynthia Erivo. Elphaba is a girl who was born green, and as a result, isn’t treated the same as others. When traveling to Shiz, Elphaba never intended to start class; she accompanied her little sister Nessarose to school and ended up exhibiting her magical powers. This causes her to gain the attention of famous sorceress Madame Morrible, played by actress Michelle Yeoh. Elphaba is promptly enrolled in the school and ends up rooming with Galinda.
Going into this movie with only prior knowledge of the “Wizard of Oz” movie, I essentially went in blind. Having not seen the stage production, it made it more enjoyable to learn the twists and turns alongside the rest of the audience in my theater.
The Broadway adaptation previously starred Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Galinda, and the pair made a cameo in the movie that was highly acclaimed. It was magical to see the previous Elphaba and Galinda advance the plot alongside this generation’s leads.
If the fact that the movie made its budget on opening night doesn’t convince you, I went to see it a week later and nearly every seat was purchased for every showing that day. If you can snag a few seats to see this stunning movie, I would highly recommend watching it the next time you get the craving for some popcorn.
All in all, I can’t wait for the next part as the movie ended with Erivo’s stunning performance of “Defying Gravity.” Since I saw the movie, the songs have been stuck in my head, especially “No One Mourns the Wicked,” “What Is This Feeling?” and “Defying Gravity.” I cannot wait to return to the magical world of Oz in part two, which is slated to be released on Nov. 21, 2025.
