As somebody who knows very little of Wicked, other than a couple of scenes from the Broadway play in which Idina Menzel blew out eardrums, I found myself struggling a bit with Wicked: Part 1.
Yet ultimately, I find myself curious about Part 2 of this Wizard of Oz prequel and where this thing is going. Given its two-hour, 40-minute runtime, my still being interested after the final scene is a victory, and I feel comfortable giving it a mild recommendation. That is, a mild recommendation for the uninitiated. As for established Wicked fans, I’m guessing this movie is the second coming of Christ.
While the proceedings are flawed, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are pure dynamite strapped to a nuclear bomb as Galinda and Elphaba, young sorcery students on their way to being the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West in Oz lore. When the two share the screen for musical numbers, it’s pure movie-musical magic.
There are a bunch of subplots that don’t really engage, with long stretches that feel like padding. A fair amount of stuff makes little to no sense and drones on at times, but Part 2 (due out next year) will likely make some of those moments clearer. On the fun side, there are some cool Oz easter eggs, including a frightened lion cub and a couple of quick cameos.
The final act is easily the best part, with Jeff Goldblum making a perfect Wizard, and a rousing rendition of “Defying Gravity” that showcases Erivo’s astonishingly good voice. Let it be said that Grande, obviously no slouch with the singing, has some impeccable comic timing, imbibing Galinda with a fun, snarky element.
So, yeah, I care where this whole thing is going despite being sporadically bored with the first installment. Hopefully next year’s conclusion will elevate the grade of the first one by driving the whole thing home.
