‘Wicked: For Good’ or Forgetful?

*Disclaimer: Spoilers Ahead*

It has been just about a year since the release of Wicked, the film adaptation of Act One of the original Broadway Musical. Now the sequel, Wicked: For Good, came out on November 21, bringing Act Two to the big screen. This takes place a year after the first movie. We see the film focus on darker themes while expanding the world of The Wizard of Oz. The film, though succeeding in representing the musical, falls a little flat compared to the first one.

The Visuals

Let’s start with some of our favorite parts of the film: the visuals. What can I say except how colorful! It made me reminisce about the use of Technicolor in The Wizard of Oz, which was a groundbreaking cinematic tool. There was an explosion of vibrant color on the screen, which really drew us in. It was a true creative practice that made us feel as if we were truly in the world of Oz. The CGI was also worth noting, as there are a wide variety of talking animals in the film. We think they did a great job without them looking stand-out fake or cringey.

Songs and Score

We can’t talk about a musical like Wicked: For Good without talking about the songs and score. Unsurprisingly, Cynthia Erivo’s (Elphaba) and Ariana Grande’s (Glinda) vocal performances were extraordinary. We’d have to say ‘No Good Deed‘ really excelled overall with Elphaba’s emotional turn and power behind the voice. It seems to take over the glory that was ‘Defying Gravity‘. Erivo’s solo performances were impressive, but her voice also blended beautifully with Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero) in ‘As Long As You’re Mine‘ as well as in ‘For Good‘ with Grande. It truly felt like it was one voice going toward the same path and rejoicing in the sound.

Working in tandem with the film score, the vocal performances heighten the emotions and the tone of any talking sequences. It allowed them to become more intense when characters are in danger and more joyful when scenes may err on the side of cliché. Put them together and these two elements create a remarkably effective building of the world.

Costuming

When it comes to costuming, the world of Oz is an incredible creative outlet. Sure, they have The Wizard of Oz to base some ideas. But in total, it must come from direct imagination and creativity. We believe that’s why it’s so powerful and why it won an Oscar. Though, I think Glinda spent one too many scenes in her iridescent blue, purple, and pink gown. I would have loved to see different looks as she paraded through Oz with the different towns, being this famous politician and figure. This isn’t to say that her looks were not good overall. They were absolutely stunning. There has been some controversy when it comes to how the cast looks, mainly speculations about their physical health and how the dresses, particularly Grande’s, show off incredibly sunken collarbones and slim waist. It can be a little disconcerting to send such a message.

Some other costumes that showcase the talent of the crew were the Tin Man, which showed the complete transformation from one character to another. Ethan Slater is completely unrecognizable in his tin suit. I think it also builds off his acting, for which he has this intense anger towards Elphaba and Nessarose (Marissa Bode), which helped the transformation. There have also been some funny TikToks and social media posts about how the scarecrow looks, with some claiming that he looks like Ryan Reynolds instead of Bailey.

Additional Scenes

There were some extended scenes, such as the construction of the Yellow Brick Road, Glinda’s back story, and even the wedding. They all attempt to build an emotional connection but instead fall flat. The writing in general fails to justify the additions and, in doing so, takes away strength from the original plot. Non-comedic dialogue may draw unintended laughter from the audience. Instead of enriching the emotional core of the story, it leaves the film feeling scattered compared to the more focused writing of the original musical. Extending a film to add more scenes or details may not always be the best decision, and in this case, it definitely hinders the film.

For Goodness Sake

Overall, Wicked: For Good ultimately falls short, and it shows the shortcomings of splitting the story into two films. This seemed to be a money-making decision to hold on to a franchise longer. In any film series or two-part adaptation, one film will likely suffer due to the structure of the original story, whether it be from a weaker plot, lesser emotional stakes, or just less compelling material to expand upon. Ultimately, it left Wicked: For Good in the dust.