Chills, literal chills. That is all I can say about “Wicked: For Good.” This film has completely rewritten everything I thought I knew about the original “The Wizard of Oz.” The way the story unfolds goes far beyond what I thought it was, leaving me in complete shock after the credits rolled. The movie dives deep into the backstory of Elphaba Thropp, the so-called wicked witch, providing layers of complexity to characters I thought I knew well. It focuses on that there is not one enemy to all and that it is all about perspective.
The movie has a runtime of 2 hours, 17 minutes,, the color and life-like animation of the animals is enticing. Director Jon M. Chu, Screenwriters Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox, Producers Marc Platt & David Stone, and music/lyrics by original Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz did a marvelous job creating this film. One of my absolute favorite scenes happens when Galinda, played by Ariana Grande, and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba recreate an iconic dance from the first part of “Wicked.” This happens during the song “Wonderful”, sung by Jeff Goldblum, who plays the wizard—a perfect blend of nostalgia and fresh energy that encapsulates the spirit of the plot. The choreography was engaging, and watching the two characters continue their journey together was a captivating experience.
Madison Akers, a resident of Saint Charles and a student at Wredling Middle School, gave her opinion on “Wicked: For Good.” “It was a very good movie and had a lot of good music. I think the first movie’s music was better, but this one had better songs toward the end. It was definitely sad. It was definitely very sad at the end, but overall very funny.” Overall, the movie definitely exceeded my expectations.The music was so amazing, the colors were so vibrant, the emotion was so raw from Grande, and Erivo and went far beyond my love for part one, and I’m still reeling because of its very unexpected turn of events at the ending. I recommend that everyone see “Wicked: For Good,” and if you have not yet watched the first part, please do so; it is an amazing movie that everyone can find enjoyable, and I must say, after watching this, I have been changed for good.
