Director: John M. Chu
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jeff Goldblum
‘A Mesmerizing Musical’
When it comes to the greatest musicals ever made without any flaws, it’s worth discussing “The Wizard of Oz”. Following its release in 1939, Victor Fleming’s movie has stood test of time as an iconic musical masterpiece. On a personal level, I find the musical about wizards to be relatable. Many years ago, my grandmother appreciated a musical about women that are transported somewhere over the rainbow. Drawn to the land of Oz, she would love discussing a musical she that felt didn’t suffer from flaws deserving a deafening round of applause. Fond of Dorothy Gale, she appreciated a tale about wicked witches which are determined not to fail. Obsessed with the Wicked Witch of the West, she loved talking about a musical she considered the best. Like Elphaba, my grandma was a strong woman with charisma that loved the musical genre. I loved spending every day with a grandmother that I considered practically perfect in every way. However, Cancer brought her love for the musical to closure. When she passed away from Cancer, my grandmother never got the chance to watch musicals that she used to treasure. Because of my grandmother’s heartbreaking passing, my appreciation for the land of Oz came to a pause. Experiencing sorrow, I would no more be excited to watch Dorothy escaping a frightening tornado to go somewhere over the rainbow. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t bring myself to watch the commemorated musical after my grandmother died. Looking back with nostalgia, I treasure a commemorated musical that has become a heartwarming reminder of my grandma. Several years later, I treasure a celebrated musical that’s become a commemorated reminder of my precious grandmother.
As someone treasuring memories of a grandmother in my childhood, I adored “Wicked: For Good”. Released in 2025, John M. Chu’s movie honoured celebrated musicals. Packed with breathtaking production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies of the year. At the centre of it all is Cynthia Erivo, who embodies a witch facing sorrow. Although “Wicked: For Good” is riveting, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from uneven pacing. Nevertheless, it offers magical entertainment for fans of musicals.
Following events of “Wicked”, “Wicked: For Good” continues adventures of a wicked witch that’s far from good. Cynthia Erivo portrays Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West that’s haunted by trauma. Accused of breaking laws, Elphaba is feared by citizens in her land of Oz. However, Elphaba’s life forever changes when she is betrayed by her former friend Glinda (Ariana Grande). Experiencing a life-threatening dilemma, Elphaba questions whether its possible for her to survive in a commemorated world causing trauma.
John M. Chu is fascinated with musicals about witches that are wicked. His iconic film “Wicked” introduced audiences to the musical about witches that are wicked. With “Wicked: For Good”, however, Chu crafted his first musical sequel. It was the filmmaker’s attempt celebrating a Broadway production about wicked witches facing adversity but he succeeded. Evoking Victor Fleming’s “The Wizard of Oz”, Chu successfully uses montages to capture a wicked witch embarking on a journey filled with flaws. For instance, montages elevate the “As Long As You’re Mine” musical sequence. During this unforgettable scene, Elphaba sings a melody expressing her love for Prince Fiyero. It brought back fond memories of a grandmother that appreciated a musical which shaped her identity. Montages are tricky techniques. As Robert Stevenson’s “Mary Poppins” demonstrated, montages elevate musicals about magical nannies. Nevertheless, it works tremendously. Through groundbreaking visuals, Chu captures tensions wicked witches are experiencing.
Another admirable aspect of “Wicked: For Good” that merits appreciation is the musical numbers. Inspired by Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables”, Chu stages musical numbers through using the technique of live-singing. Chu’s decision to have the actors performing melodies live on set is risky, but it pays off. For instance, live-singing elevates the “For Good” musical sequence. During this unforgettable scene, Glinda bids tearful farewell to Elphaba demonstrating relationships with her friend for the final time. It reminded me of my long-lasting relationship with a grandmother that appreciated a musical about witches that are wicked. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. John Powell’s commemorated music is consequential to the success of the movie. It gives the movie an engaging atmosphere demonstrating burden that wicked witches bear. Using phenomenal production, Chu honours a commemorated Broadway production.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Wicked: For Good” is a musical that’s engaging. Amidst the memorable musical numbers, the film finds time for meaningful moments of character development. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture the lives of witches facing tension. Evoking Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land”, Chu effectively uses silence to capture grief experienced by witches in a doomed land. For instance, silence elevates the death scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Glinda faces emotions of grief when she discovers that her friend has died. It reminded me about my grief when a grandmother I appreciated passed away leaving my family emotionally devastated. Through sequences of silence, Chu creates a portrait of witches that audiences can relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Chu honours a play.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Cynthia Erivo delivers one of her best career performances as Elphaba. Erivo first earned earned appreciation for playing legendary freedom fighters in historical biopics. With “Wicked: For Good”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a wicked witch seeking to escape adversity but she succeeds. Evoking Margaret Hamilton in “The Wizard of Oz”, Erivo embodies a wicked witch that suffers from flaws. With riveting expressions, she embodies the anger, fear and resentments of a wicked witch that embarks on expeditions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actresses working today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Cynthia Erivo, the supporting cast is also excellent and worthy of appreciation. Ariana Grande is astonishing, bringing charisma to a good witch that is betrayed by her best friend causing a dilemma. Michelle Yeoh is magnificent, capturing the authority of a feminist leader giving people dreams to follow somewhere over the rainbow. Lastly, Jeff Goldblum merits appreciation. As the wizard, he is unforgettable.
Despite its celebrated performances, however, “Wicked: for Good” can’t quite honour a Broadway play about witches that are far from good. Chu’s decisions to integrate romantic subplots into the movie is bold but doesn’t entirely succeed. Due to this faulty decision, scenes capturing Elphaba’s romantic relationship with Prince Fiyero aren’t as engaging as her journey to find acceptance in Oz. As Rob Reiner’s “The Princess Bride” suggested, romantic subplots elevate fantasy films about princesses. Moreover, the film lacks a compelling ending. It’s a cliffhanger conclusion without satisfying resolution. At worst, it seems intended to set up sequels. Whereas this cliffhanger ending elevated David Yates’ “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1”, it clashes with the tone of this movie. Therefore, “Wicked: For Good” can’t quite honour a Broadway play.
Nevertheless, fans of The Wizard of Oz will definitely appreciate “Wicked: For Good” and so would movie-goers seeking magical entertainment. A spectacular sequel, it honours a Broadway play about witches that are fearful.
Nearly 90 years following the release of a groundbreaking musical about wizards that suffer from flaws in the fantastical land of Oz, it’s a riveting reminder that stories of wicked witches are worth telling in movies that deserve a round of applause.
As strong as Elphaba’s desires to become the Wicked Witch of the West, it has motivated me to move on several years after the death of my grandmother left me depressed cherishing positive memories of a commemorated relative whose words of wisdom inspired my lifelong love for films with which I will forever be obsessed.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 