A brutally honest review of Wicked.

There was never any guarantee that Wicked would be good.

Yes, from the outset, the deck seemed quite stacked in the movie's favour. Not only is it an adaptation of a beloved Broadway show that has been running for over 20 years, it also features a slew of catchy songs that are so artfully written that many have passed from the hearts of theatre kids and into the hands of mainstream music lovers, who can sing along to 'Defying Gravity' and 'Popular', even if they don't know the intricate backstories of the characters who perform them.

Still, history has taught us that stage-to-screen adaptions can be fraught with peril, even when they feature beloved storylines, songs, and characters.

Sometimes special effects turn charming ideas into sources of ridicule (Cats). Or, the creative team loses faith in its idea and tries to hide the fact that it's a musical (Mean Girls). And sometimes, the adaptation features some of the most iconic songs in the history of musical theatre, translated onto the big screen in some of the most impressively shot scenes in recent memory — but still, it won't grab the attention of audiences (West Side Story, although the pandemic also played a hand in this one).

In the case of Wicked Part One (the movie ends where the stage show's intermission usually begins, with Wicked Part Two set for release in 2025), what director Jon M. Chu and screenwriters Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox have so perfectly grasped is where to lean into the traditional beats of the musical, and where to accelerate and change things up.

The movie's first win is in the casting of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, an ostracised young woman born with green skin and great power who will go on to become the Wicked Witch of the West.

Erivo first gained recognition after an acclaimed run in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple. Her star-making performance earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Later, Erivo would go on to be nominated for an Oscar for playing Harriet Tubman in the 2019 film Harriet. Since the role of Elphaba calls for the powerhouse vocal skills of a Broadway star and the acting chops of an Oscar nominee, Erivo was an inspired choice for the role.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp in Wicked. Image: Universal Pictures Australia.

In many stage performances of Wicked, Elphaba is sometimes played with a comical, socially awkward edge. In the film adaption, Chu and Erivo have created an Elphaba who is more cutting and reserved. It's a choice that makes Elphaba an intriguing and fully-formed character, particularly as they explore more of young Elphaba's (Karis Musongole) experiences.

In the case of Ariana Grande's casting, there was more of a question mark over her name from diehard fans of the musical (including me). Grande plays Galinda Upland, a rich, popular young woman at Shiz University forms a close friendship with Elphaba after their initial hatred of each other ebbs away. Later, of course, Galinda will become Glinda the Good Witch of the North.

In the wrong hands, Galinda can become too slapstick. When her musical moments are played too heavily for comedy, the audience loses the true depth of her character, who goes through such an internal transformation during the show. Thankfully, this isn't an issue for the Wicked film. Grande hits the perfect note between grounded and glitzy, and displays a level of comedic timing that makes many of Galinda's scenes the stand-out moments of the film.

Another stand-out performance in the film is delivered by Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp, Elphaba's favoured and wheelchair-bound little sister, who is the reason the sisters are enrolled at Shiz University. After more than two decades of the musical's existence, Bode is the first wheelchair user to play Nessarose. The film — and Bode's performance — adds extra depth to Nessarose's character with additional scenes that are not seen in the stage show, which brings more excitement for where her storyline is set to go in the next installment.

Rounding out the film's impeccable casting are Michelle Yeoh as the cunning Madame Morrible, Headmistress of Shiz University; Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, who captures the character's ability to go from charming to pathetic in one scene; and Broadway star Ethan Slater as Boq, a Munchkin blinded with love for Galinda, whose earnest performance perfectly sets the scene for what is to come.

Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey's casting as the dashing Fiyero Tigelaar was met with rapturous agreement when it was first announced and thankfully, the final product delivers on what was promised. Before he found fame in Netflix's first family, Bailey was most notably known as a theatre actor (he first appeared in a professional production at just eight years old) and even won the coveted Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2019.

So while his charming smile goes a long way in bringing the rogue prince to life, it's Bailey's theatre experience that really brings the depth and allure of Fiyero so perfectly to the big screen.

Ariana Grande as Galinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in Wicked. Image: Universal Pictures Australia.

But despite the quality of the material and the excellent ensemble cast, there are some scenes in Wicked that struggle to find their feet.

'Dancing Through Life' is Fiyero's main number and one of the show's beloved tunes, but while Bailey's voice is glorious, the focus is drawn away from him and instead centres on the mechanics of the sets, dance numbers and special effects at play. In this case, access to the 'magic of the movies' convolutes what should have been a character-building moment, proving that even with a blockbuster like this, less can sometimes be more.

A similar criticism can be leveled at Galinda's rendition of 'Popular', which, aside from being the show's biggest earworm, also signifies a significant shift in the dynamic between our two leading ladies.

While Grande's voice perfectly captures the song, too much attention is spent trying to showcase the special effects that give Galinda's shoes, closet and makeup collection their own starring moment. Keeping the camera focused on Grande and Erivo would have let their performances carry the scene.

Still, on the whole, Wicked is a triumph.

Listen to the cast of Wicked on The Spill, article continues.

The world Chu has created is visually stunning, yet he also seems deftly aware that the true power of the story lies in the evolving character dynamics and the secrets lurking behind the powers that be in Oz.

I have always told people that Wicked is the one musical that people who hate musicals should see. I say this because (perish the thought), even if you were to delete all the songs, you'd still be left with a story and characters so compelling that Wicked would stand on their own.

So if you're not a diehard Wicked fan, this movie will still draw you in. But if your love for the musical runs deep, then brace yourself for a very emotional viewing experience.

Wicked Part One released in Australian cinemas 21 November 2024. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theatres on November 21, 2025.

Feature Image: Universal Pictures Australia.

Laura Brodnik is Mamamia's Head of Entertainment and host of The Spill podcast. You can follow her on Instagram here for more entertainment news and recommendations.