Film Review: Wicked: For Good

Review by Daz Gale

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I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, and for Jon M. Chu it was to make cinema magic with Wicked. The response to the first film last year was nothing short of spectacular, pleasing diehard fans of the musicals at the same time as winning a legion of new fans. As a huge fan of the musical myself, I deemed the first film perfect, and the year-long wait for this sequel has been even more agonising than the decades we waited for the film to be made in the first place. Hopes have been understandably high that this second instalment would be every bit as wonderful as the first, but would all of the changes made to this film be for good?

Wicked: For Good focuses on the second Act of the stage musical. After Elphaba defies gravity, she is exiled by the citizens of Oz. As the wizard and Madame Morrible spread propaganda about her, painting her to be the Wicked Witch, her best friend Glinda, has become a celebrated public figure known as “Glinda the Good”. With a wedding to plan, animals losing their rights, an angry mob determined to kill the Witch and a stranger swept in to the land of Oz to seemingly kill people and steal their shoes, will the truth ever be revealed, and will good win out or would wickedness prevail?

With the musical running at 2 hours 45 minutes, both Wicked movies run collectively at just under five hours. This has allowed Jon M Chu to fully flesh out the story, bringing more detail and a backstory to elements and characters that limitations on stage wouldn’t allow. For the most part, this works incredibly well, but the fact that Act 2 of the musical is drastically shorter than the first means there is a lot more to fill for the 2 hours 17 minutes of Wicked: For Good. This became quite noticeable in the first chunk of the movie, which didn’t feel as impeccably paced as the first, feeling fairly slow at times and if certain scenes could have been cut completely without losing anything from the story.

The ante is very quickly upped, though, and the rest of the movie flows much better. This allows Chu to really embrace his world-building, creating a rich tapestry of Oz that manages to explore the key themes in the story. Most notable is the story of animals losing their freedom, while other characters, including Nessarose and Boq, find themselves with a bit more to do. Some of the changes may split opinion when it comes to fans of the movie, particularly when it comes to a drastically different ‘Wicked Witch Of The East’.

Chu’s vision for these movies has been executed beautifully, with some truly astonishing shots creating an aesthetic that simultaneously boasts a rainbow of colours while being filled with darkness. If the Ozdust ballroom was the moment everybody talked about in the first movie, its equivalent is a striking shot that immediately follows the climactic title number ‘For Good’. No spoilers at all, but I did not see the final shot of the movie coming; but I can’t imagine a better way to end it. Overall, Wicked has been in very safe hands with Jon M. Chu, and For Good is a fine example of his magnificent skills as a director. Both this and the first movie will also lend themselves well to repeat viewing once you have seen both, with easter eggs hidden away and aspects that payoff when you have seen both halves of the story - look out for a confusing shot with two characters near the beginning that makes sense at the end, and an answer to the mysteries of the opening moments of the first movie.

When Wicked: For Good is at its best is when it is bringing the iconic musical numbers to life. Early number ‘Thank Goodness’ lays the foundations for the subsequent numbers that grow in scale and vision. ‘For Good’ is every bit as heartwrenching and emotional as you would hope, with a gorgeous and intimate use of close-ups heightening the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda, and reducing me to a quivering wreck. ‘No Good Deed’ is a huge highlight as it amplifies Elphaba’s sense of urgency and desperation as she makes her final stand, with some exceptional choices utilised. The standout sequence of this movie, in my opinion, is an especially romantic and intense ‘As Long As You’re Mine’. Always a beautiful highlight on stage, the realisation of this for the movie is better than my wildest dreamings, bringing the sequence to new gravity-defying heights.

Some may comment that the songs in Act Two aren’t as strong as the first, though I would personally beg to differ. These people may be satisfied with the inclusion of what can only be described as a Part One Megamix. Essentially a “Previously on”, it manages to bring back some of the fan favourite moments from the first movie, while bringing something new to the story. It’s silly, but it works. As well as new lyrics in multiple songs, For Good boasts two brand new musical numbers, written especially for the movie. Elphaba gets a new intimate and introspective moment in ‘No Place Like Home’ in a pleasant number, wonderfully performed by Cynthia Erivo, but perhaps not destined to become as much of a classic as her other solos. ‘The Girl In The Bubble’ fares far more successfully, giving Glinda a much needed number to further her character development. Its inclusion in such a pivotal time pushes the story along, and adds a missing cog to the time dragon clock.

One of the strongest aspects of Wicked is its stellar cast, and For Good follows suit. Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard is delightfully kitsch, played in a way only Jeff Goldblum could. Jonathan Bailey is simply thrillifying as Fiyero, bringing an intensity to his ‘As Long As You’re Mine’ with gorgeous vocals to boot. Some West End favourites also pop up throughout - keep an eye out for Alice Fearn, Adam Pearce and Aaron Teoh to name but a few. I will say I don’t completely enjoy Michelle Yeoh’s take on Madame Morrible, though I’m sure others will. Though she is an accomplished actress, I found her performance of this character to be uneven, and her lack of musicality means the moments she is required to sing lacks the necessary impact to bring it to the next level.

Of course, there are two more cast members I haven’t mentioned, purely because there is nowhere to go once I have raved about their incredible talents. Cynthia Erivo continues to showcase her remarkable talents in a performance that takes the seeds planted in the first movie, and lets them flourish. Her Elphaba has been hardened by circumstance, though the sense of longing for happier times shines through in her performance. Erivo doesn’t put a foot wrong, bringing the house down (metaphorically. Calm down, Dorothy) with her out-of-this-world vocals on ‘No Good Deed’, while showing more of a sensitivity on new number ‘No Place Like Home’. Her Elphaba is a case of perfect casting, cementing Erivo as one of the brightest stars around.

Though Elphaba gets top billing over Glinda, the second movie is weighted more evenly, with Glinda getting more to do. The result is the strongest performance of the movie, with Ariana Grande completely spell-binding in her delivery. The growth from the first movie is palpable, with Grande bringing a real humanity to her Witch. The optimism, the sorrow, the conflicting nature of her less-than-ideal circumstance and the sudden need to grow up after being placed in a world that isn’t as glossy and perfect as it seemed before peeking behind the curtain. Grande has the ability to break hearts in her portrayal - the overwhelming emotion visible in her eyes translates through the cinema screen to the extent that I felt what she seemed to be feeling. I must admit I was sceptical when Ariana Grande was announced to be playing Glinda in the movie, but I couldn’t be happier to have been proven so wrong. Grande delivers a flawless performance that could end up as iconic as Judy Garland’s Dorothy. She may be the Good Witch, but her performance is so much better than simply good.

It is the chemistry between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande that truly elevates their performances. You will have no doubt seen their relationship blossom through every press event and appearance during both movies. From holding space to the finger grab to Cynthia being Ariana’s bodyguard last week, the genuine love they have for each other comes through in this movie. Even the best acting in the world can’t compare to something that is real, and their friendship takes this movie to amazing new heights. Though they don’t get many opportunities to share the screen in this second movie, several choices have been made to increase this, such as Glinda appearing in ‘Wonderful’ - Wicked is at its best when Elphaba and Glinda are together, and so too is this movie when Erivo and Grande share the screen.

When I saw the first Wicked movie, I commented that it was absolutely perfect. Wicked: For Good is not. That is not to say it isn’t a good movie - far from it. Wicked: For Good is outstanding in places, but perfect? Not quite. I still think Jon M Chu was the best person they could have got for both of these movies, and what he has achieved overall is nothing short of miraculous. Bringing to life this much-loved story while not being afraid to bring something new to the mix and make some necessary changes leads to a Wicked that feels familiar yet new at the same time. Who can say if all of the changes are for the better? I certainly didn’t love every single one, but I appreciated all of the artistry involved. Whether you have seen Wicked in the theatre or not, there is something for everyone in this wonderful movie. It will pull at your heartstrings, make you believe in love and overall make you melt. It’s been a long time coming for these movies to come out, but they were more than worth the wait and at least are now available for good.

Wicked: For Good is in cinemas on 21st November.