The present “Wicked” doesn’t want a film adaptation to be related — it’s already a cultural phenomenon, even earlier than this primary a part of a behemoth two-film Hollywood model hits theaters. The beloved Broadway musical is taken from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” a revisionist historical past of each Frank L. Baum’s 1900 fantasy novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and that guide’s iconic 1939 movie adaptation. So this new movie comes heaped excessive with a century’s value of heritage, within the traditions of literature, display and stage, plus the huge expectations that include that.
Whereas Dorothy’s twister twirl into Technicolor is burned into our collective consciousness, so too is the huge be aware on the finish of the musical’s first act, sung by the witch on the plot’s heart, Elphaba, within the present’s signature music, “Defying Gravity” (written by Stephen Schwartz, who created all of the music and lyrics for the present). Director Jon M. Chu’s oversize film adaptation takes each second of its 2 hours and 40 minutes to construct as much as that one be aware.
The battle cry that emerges from Elphaba (performed right here by the Tony-winning, Cynthia Erivo) is a second wherein the anti-tyrannical ethos of the movie snaps into focus with such crystal readability that it’s breathtaking. It’s simply the previous rising motion that feels a bit underwhelming.
“Wicked” seeks to elucidate to us the Depraved Witch of the West, and the screenplay, which is written by Dana Fox and Winnie Holzman (the latter of whom wrote the present’s guide) kicks off when a denizen of Munchkinland dares to ask Glinda the Good Witch (Ariana Grande) in her huge, pink bubble, “Is it true you were friends with her?” Cue a flashback — now one movie lengthy a minimum of — to their days at Shiz College, the place the pair first encountered one another.
Elphaba, brainy however rejected by her emotionally withholding father since beginning because of the shade of her inexperienced pores and skin, finds herself enrolled at Shiz when she follows her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) to highschool and by accident unleashes some tough, untrained magical powers, catching the attention of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), the college’s headmistress. Elphaba is pressured to bunk up with fairly, standard, pink-obsessed Galinda (the primary iteration of the Good Witch’s title, although you most likely know her by one thing shorter), and although they’re at first at odds, Galinda can’t resist making an attempt a makeover of her new roomie.
Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh within the film “Wicked: Part I.”
(Giles Keyte / Common Footage)
It’s primarily Harry Potter or “High School Musical” with extra magic, however not sufficient film magic. The script must get Elphaba and Galinda to Oz to fulfill the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and hone Elphaba’s motivation for finally defying the wizard (and gravity), which is wrapped up in a rushed subplot about speaking animals being pressured out of a beforehand built-in society and into cages. Elphaba sings emphatically about wanting to fulfill the Wizard, however why she cares a lot is a bit underbaked. She desires to assist the animals as a result of she feels linked with their plight as somebody who can be bodily completely different, however that want doesn’t transcend floor motivations. What makes Elphaba tick is obvious — it’s simply not all the time convincing.
Grande is pleasant as Galinda, exhibiting off her comedic presents (honed within the Nickelodeon trenches) and excellent voice. She’s all huge brown eyes and a pout, which she places to marvelous use in her efficiency because the petulant princess of Shiz, however her character turns are fairly flat and the world-building of this college may have been a lot sharper and funnier. Bowen Yang of “SNL” does heroic work with just a few advert libs and reactions as Galinda’s pal Pfannee, and Jonathan Bailey is terrific because the dashing prince Fiyero, however the setting doesn’t really feel well-rounded on-screen.
Chu has executed dazzling film musical work earlier than, most just lately with 2021’s “In the Heights,” however regardless of the frilly costume and manufacturing design, “Wicked” is his least visually imaginative movie. The digital camera is liberated (through CGI) within the music and dance numbers, however every part else is filmed in a primary, boring trend, the background melting right into a dim, unfocused blur behind the actors.
However “Wicked” will delight followers of the stage manufacturing as a devoted adaptation that’s without delay playful however reverent to the long-lasting “Defying Gravity.” It stays a narrative of understanding and togetherness regardless of social energy buildings that rely upon worry and divisiveness.
With one other installment on the best way, “Wicked” is already too huge to fail. However the weight of expectations is a heavy factor to bear they usually lavatory down this succesful film model on its strategy to liftoff. The movie could wrestle to take flight, however when it does, it’s undeniably shifting, with a message of freedom and defiance that resonates now greater than ever.
‘Depraved: Half I’
Rated: PG, for some scary motion, thematic materials and transient suggestive materials
Operating time: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Taking part in: In extensive launch Friday, Nov. 22
