JacobsonCinemas

20 years ago, I was watching an episode of a PBS Kids show called Zoom. One of the segments showed one of the kids in New York City going backstage in a Broadway musical called Wicked. That day, I have been changed for good. Wicked For Good starts where Act 2 begins. Elphaba has been branded the “Wicked Witch of the West” and is now wanted throughout Oz while trying to free the animals from the Wizard’s tyranny. Her friend Glinda has been promoted as a public figure to the Wizard and is also engaged with Fiyero who has also been promoted to captain the guards.

The acting is just as good as the first film with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo of course being the big standouts. Elphaba absolutely reaches her breaking point here and it is shown wonderfully through Cynthia’s performance. Ariana also is amazing and she is absolutely going to earn her Oscar win next year after being robbed by Emilia Perez (yuck). SPOILERS: One of the things that absolutely surprised me was how Boq aka the Tin Man was handled. You know how Jack Haley found playing the Tin Man very comfortable? That’s nothing compared to what happens to Boq. Unlike the original film, everything. Everything from his design and voice feels more metallic and inhuman with the addition of steam coming out of him. You can tell Boq is absolutely uncomfortable thanks to Ethan Slater’s amazing performance.

Much like the previous film all the songs were wonderfully sung, some of them even better than the stage version. The two new songs “No Place Like Home” and “Girl in the Bubble” are worthy additions and help show what both Elphaba and Glinda are going through. Everyday More Wicked added exerts of songs from the previous film as a way to recap. Wonderful adds Glinda into the song which was a brilliant way to try to get Elphaba on the Wizard’s side. The biggest standout is definitely No Good Deed. It is just as if not more epic than the Broadway version. SPOILERS: A lot of the visuals are played up more than the original showing more of what Elphaba is going through while trying to save Fiyero. During the number it cuts back and forth from Fiyero being beaten up by the guards to Elphaba casting her spell in desperation. Probably the most powerful moment and possibly the whole movie is when she see’s visions of loved ones that she’s lost and then see’s Fiyero in a cornfield “beaten to death” and shouts out to him pretty much reaching her breaking point. It’s legit a powerful and heart-breaking moment.

Wicked For Good isn’t as strong as the first one which had more of the wow factor but it’s still a very satisfying and emotional conclusion to an adaption of my favorite Broadway musical. Thank you, Jon M. Chu, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and to everyone else who worked on these films for bringing the musical that has meant the most to me to life. Also, the final shot being a reference to the Broadway poster is an absolutely brilliant way to end the film.

Verdict:

+Ariana Grande

+Cynthia Erivo

+Musical numbers

+Production design

+The Tin Man

Score: A+