This American musical fantasy film continues on from WICKED (PART1) that was released in 2024. It concludes the film adaptation of the stage musical of the same name.
WICKED: FOR GOOD. Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, and Ethan Slater. Directed by Jon M. Chu. Rated PG. (General Advice for Wicked: Mild fantasy and violence, some scenes may scare young children). 138 min.
Review by Peter W Sheehan, Jesuit Media Australia
This film has the same Director and writers as the 2024 film. It continues the reimagining of the 1900 novel by L. frank Baum, titled “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. The film was split into two parts to satisfy the demands of the story’s scope and to further develop the characters of the film without compromising the story that John M Chu, as Director, felt had to be told. It is a tough ask for Part 2 to establish a wait time of 12 months to communicate all of a film’s intended psychological and narrative thrust.
In fantasy land, Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba Thropp) becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande (as Galinda Upland), is the Wicked Witch of the North, who becomes Glinda the Good. Jonathan Bailey, and others reprise their roles from Part 1. The film follows Elphaba and Galinda who embrace their new identities as the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good. Elphaba continues her fight for animal rights and Galinda becomes a figure, closely watched by the “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (Jeff Goldblum) and “Madame Morrible” (Michelle Yeoh), a former Dean of Socery, who works for the Wizard. This concluding film has a much darker tone than the 2024 movie, new songs have been added, and it’s fantasy tone is delivered very opulently. Both lead actresses have an impressive vocal range, and show a gift for physical comedy, and Jonathan Bailey expands his original role as Prince Fiyero very significantly. The best song of the franchise, however, is “Defying Gravity”, and none of the songs in Part 2 can match its impact.
The problem for Part 1 was that weighty themes such as social injustice and racism awaited further development. They do get further treatment in Part 2, but not appreciably so. Goodness is integrated into the film’s fantasy plot-line, but themes like racism and injustice lose out to the movie’s broadly based musical appeal. Nostalgic memories of “The Wizard of Oz”, and lighter themes, such as “friendship” lie at the heart of this movie, but it has been too long a wait since Part 1 for an integrated film to appear as a dramatic whole. Part 2 is actually a very complex film. It might be summarised by arguing: this is a film which seems to say that something Wicked lies in all of us, and if it is sold well, it will be believed. Part 1 was never as complex as that.
Reviewed by Peter W. Sheehan, an Associate of Jesuit Media