The “Wicked” movie was first advertised in February 2024, and it seems people have been talking about it nonstop ever since. The film left fans crying in the theater, caused havoc because fans who thought it was their chance to sing and also surprised people due to the length of the movie compared to the play.
“Wicked” is a play that opened its curtains on Broadway in 2003 and is considered one of the best-performing Broadway shows. The play is a prequel to the world-famous “The Wizard of Oz,” set in the same universe, and explores the background of major characters such as the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba), the Good Witch of the South (Glinda) and the Wizard of Oz himself. As we explore their origin stories, the viewer can be left to wonder whether Dorothy was a good character, as we are shown that Elphaba is not inherently evil and is actually an extremely caring person who always pushed through the bullying and segregation she has endured since her birth (due to her unusual green color).
The first thing that struck me as odd was the length of the movie. The play itself runs for 2 hours and 45 minutes, which includes two acts and a 15-minute intermission. However, the movie only covers Part I (act one) and runs for 2 hours and 40 minutes. If we focus only on Part I, the musical covers it in 1 hour and 30 minutes, in stark contrast to the one hour and 10 minutes added to the movie adaptation. This could be excused as the producers wanted to elaborate more clearly on the characters and their journeys. However, this did not seem very relevant as many parts of the movie felt extremely slow and did not have many moving parts.
The second problem was the songs. Before I begin complaining, I need to explain that musicals aren’t my favorite genre. I like the classics such as “Mamma Mia” and “Hairspray” because their stories are interesting and the songs are iconic and remembered years later. However, what left me dumbfounded at the end of the film is that I enjoyed none of the new versions of the songs. There were simply too many, and sometimes they replaced conversations. The most bizarre scene is when Glinda and Elphaba arrive at the Emerald City and all the citizens begin to break out into song to explain the story of the Grimmerie and the Wizard of Oz. This scene, although very important for the context of the plot, just felt off and very weird especially with how everyone in the city just went back to living normally as if nothing had happened. It led me to believe that if you arrive in the Emerald City, the entirety of the citizens will stop what they are doing and break into song and dance to explain the history of the city. If that is the case, life must be very tiring when traveling is at an all-time high.
One thing that cannot be denied is the quality of the costumes and sets. Every character seems to be fitted with clothes that scream “magical world” and fit with their specific backgrounds. The costumes give more personality to each person and help them stand out in comparison to the more mundane side characters. However, there are some issues with certain characters like Boq who is supposed to be a Munchkin man, and ironically stands taller than Glinda. This does not take away from the amazing and unique characters in beautiful sets that seem almost too good to be true. Interestingly enough, over 90% of the film featured handmade sets instead of CGI, according to multiple sources. Arguably most impressive is the effort put into creating Munchkin Land. The producers utilized their creativity and planted over 9 million rows of tulips in the British countryside just to construct the backdrop for certain shots. They even went as far as building an entire village with roofs decorated with the same tulips previously planted. The effort put into the set design allows for a higher quality of acting because the actors do not have to imagine the breathtaking scenery surrounding them.
While the plot was interesting, it was not developed enough. As the movie progresses, we are mostly presented with Elphaba’s struggle growing up and arriving at Shiz University. The plot finally takes a turn when we learn that the smart animals are starting to be prosecuted, abused and forced into becoming simple house pets. Although this issue is the “call to action” for Elphaba, it is barely touched on and we have more of a, “I’m so alone because I’m green and different” storyline pushed constantly. I do think that since this is just Part I, the plot will develop further so this shouldn’t be a big issue.
To sum it up, if you are a huge fan of musicals and especially of the original, you will love this movie.If you are a “Wizard of Oz” fan in general, you should definitely watch this movie simply for the fact that it offers a completely new way to look at the original and puts into question whether Dorothy is a good person or not.
And no matter my opinion, the movie is to be respected as it broke many box office records, reported to have made $112,508,890 on opening day and $359,270,510 in total since then. The success of this long-awaited movie has left fans crying and singing in theaters. It keeps fans on edge anxiously awaiting Part II.
