In the winter of 2024, two films in particular will attract attention: on the one hand, there is “Gladiator II” by Ridley Scott and on the other hand, the first part of the musical film adaptation “Wicked”. At first glance, the two films couldn't be more different, but the two cinematic reboots have one thing in common: giving an existing story a modern touch isn't always a bad idea!
“Wicked”: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have irresistible chemistry
In the case of “Wicked,” Jon M. Chu impressively manages to present the prehistory of “The Wizard of Oz” in a contemporary manner. The focus is on the question of whether people are inherently evil or are made that way – and a unique friendship.
In the original, the good witch Glinda and the evil green witch Elphaba play a significant role, but in “Wicked” the focus is on the two and their connection to each other.
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At the beginning of the two-part musical (part 2 will be released on November 25, 2025), Glinda (Ariana Grande) explains to the residents of a place in the fantasy world of Oz that the Wicked Witch of the West is dead – and the people are celebrating. When Glinda is asked how well she knew Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), she flashes back to the special bond that shared the two. This went from the first disparaging introduction to the rapprochement and deep friendship that ultimately developed between the women.
This storyline is the greatest strength of “Wicked”. It is thanks to Jon M. Chu's gentle narration, but especially to the great performances of the two stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, that the unique connection between the two witches even brings tears to your eyes at one time or another.
“Wicked”: Brightly colored backdrops and catchy tunes
But it's not just the interaction that speaks for the actors. When it comes to singing talent, Jon M. Chu also made exactly the right choice, especially when it came to Ariana Grande. It has long been known that the singer has a lot of vocal chops. Even on difficult songs like the catchy “Popular,” her performance seems almost effortless. She also proves her comedic talent again and again – which also applies to “Bridgerton” star Jonathan Bailey, who charmingly gives Prince Fiyero depth, even if his role is a bit too short in the first part. But the focal point of the film is clearly Cynthia Erivo, who makes it clear with every fiber of her being how much she lives and loves her character. So it's no surprise that she's a hot contender for an Oscar nomination.
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The musical film adaptation is also visually impressive. The director has more than 300 million dollars at his disposal for the realization of the two parts – and Chu clearly used it. Instead of modern CGI technology, the filmmaker used real sets when creating the Glizz University – an effort that pays off. In the brightly colored fantasy world of Oz, you get more and more lost by the minute.
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Given that the first part isn't exactly short with a running time of 2 hours and 40 minutes, apart from the female leads and Jonathan Bailey as the prince, the other roles remain too pale. With Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh and Hollywood star Jeff Goldblum, the film has two exceptional talents who try everything to give their characters depth as Madam Akaber and Oz, but just don't get the space for it. We can only hope that this changes in the second part.
Conclusion: Is “Wicked” worth it?
“Wicked” is a modern, colorful prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” and focuses entirely on the enchanting connection between the two main characters. Although some secondary strands are neglected, what makes the film so magical comes into focus: the chemistry between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, which the audience cannot possibly escape.
