Wicked will take you on a spellbinding journey
There will never be a duo as strong as Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth, the original Elphaba and Glinda. Each woman had a recognizable voice, and when they harmonized, both shined in equal measure without ever overshadowing the other. Thus creating a remarkable partnership. Consequently, when the big screen adaptation was first announced I was tentative.
As I got comfy in my seat during the first hour of Wicked I began to swing between two emotions. I hated the clumsy CGI especially the fish, birds and foliage which was unnecessary and felt very much like a Disney live action. On the flip side I loved the casting. Johnathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard of Oz and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible were all sheer perfection, but what of the leading ladies? Cynthia Erivo creates an Elphaba that is bold and unflappable. Never trying to copy Menzel, Erivo’s voice may not be as sweet but reverberates with a guttural strength that will make your jaw drop. From her clever glasses to ornate black garb, Erivo will leave you transfixed. Ariana Grande on the other hand is the only disappointment of this film. Every line Grande gives and every word she accentuates comes across as a poor facsimile of Chenoweth. While Grande has a beautiful voice she is unable to create an apparent Glinda that is all her own. This is most notable during the songs Popular and Defying Gravity which come across as a regrettable impersonation of someone else’s brilliance.
The latter half of Wicked is where the magic truly happens. While the first hour serves as an introduction to the characters, the second fleshes out the important themes of the novel. Wicked is about identity and the need to harness one’s inner power. The ramifications of that power however can be manipulated and twisted. At this point I found myself completely invested in the movie, so much so, that my disappointment with Grande’s performance dissipated. As Elphaba and Glinda embark on their newly acquired friendship the film gains significant momentum. They dance, (visions of Wednesday,) they hop on a cool train and they finally reach The Emerald City. Every minute in The Emerald City is exciting from Goldblum’s Carousel of Progress-like number to the impressive transformation of the Winged Monkeys. The stakes are set high and everything comes together perfectly for Erivo’s huge onscreen moment. When Erivo hit that final note I actually got the shivers. Wicked is beautiful, powerful and relevant.
Sadly, we have to wait a whole year for the conclusion of Wicked, which for lack of a better term sucks big time. However, another musical just came out this weekend. They sing, they dance…and they live in a bunker underground because pollution has completely destroyed their world. Has your curiosity been adequately peaked yet…. My review of The End coming soon.