Although the year is beginning to wind down, and many people are now looking toward the Christmas season and all the associated festivities that come with it, there are still a handful of sizeable blockbusters hoping to grab your attention before 2024 is done and dusted. And one of these blockbusters is director Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: Part I, which stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh, and is now playing in UK and US cinemas.
But I probably don’t need to tell you this, as you’re no doubt aware of the film’s existence, because every bus, billboard, and yellow brick road is currently plastered with advertising for Wicked: Part I – a film which is titled as such because it is the opening half of a two-part story.
Adapted from the stage show of the same name, which in turn was loosely based on a 1995 novel, Wicked: Part I is a musical fantasy which has been reworked to make two films. The first one is here for all to see this year, while Wicked: Part II arrives in November 2025.
Does an adaptation of the Wicked musical require two movies? I guess we won’t really know the full answer to that question until Part II makes its debut next year, however, with Part I clocking in at a bum-numbing two-hours-and-forty-minutes, the real question for now is: Why is this opening chapter so long?
Well, I can answer that question, and I promise I will get to it momentarily, but first I need to provide you with a few plot details. Not everyone has seen the musical, and some of you may wish to know what is going on in the Land of Oz.
Yes, this is the same Land of Oz that is home to flying monkeys and Munchkins. For those not familiar with Wicked, the film is essentially a sort-of prequel to The Wizard of Oz, and includes some characters you’re familiar with and some you’re not.
In the movie, The Wicked Witch of the West is dead. She lost her life to a bucket of water, and as Glinda the Good Witch of the North breaks the news to some very happy citizens, all of Oz celebrates.
However, just as she is about to depart, one of the residents of Oz reminds Glinda that she and the Wicked Witch were once friends. And not only friends, but best friends!
From here the movie flashes back in time to when Glinda (formerly Galinda) and the Wicked Witch (formerly Elphaba) attended university together. The story then demonstrates how they became besties, how they became romantically connected to the same guy, and how they uncovered a troubling and sinister plot in Oz.
OK, let’s get back to the question posed above: Why is this opening chapter so long? Answer: Because Part I has been stretched out to make this TWO-PART EPIC even more EPIC-IER!!!!
Yeah, you thought you couldn’t get more epic than a two-part adaptation of the Wicked stage show, but director Jon M. Chu has proved you wrong! He’s gone in, tinkered with things, dragged bits out here and there, and cranked the EPIC FACTOR up to eleven!
Is this a good thing? Well, I guess this comes down to how much you can stomach a two-hour-and-forty-minute musical that only tells half of the story.
There is simply no denying this film is long and arguably 30 minutes longer than it needs to be. Some plot points could have been tossed aside in the editing room, or simply trimmed down a touch to make this picture a little tighter.
I have to admit, as someone who has seen the stage show and who wasn’t a fan, the prospect of sitting through this opening chapter, and it being so long, didn’t fill me with a great deal of excitement. I wasn’t dreading this film, but I was expecting it to be a chore.
But, I have an unexpected plot twist for you. Not only did I not dislike Wicked: Part I, I thought it was really rather good.
Actually, scratch that, apart from a couple of quibbles, Wicked: Part I is excellent. If you’ve been waiting patiently to see this film, and you’re about fit to burst because you can’t contain your excitement any longer, get yourself to the cinema pronto, you are going to enjoy what is on offer.
Wicked: Part I is a very well put together movie, which delights and then some. The film is filled with fun and magic, is occasionally quite humorous, and is entertaining.
One of the strongest aspects of Wicked: Part I is the cast, which not only includes the likes of the always dependable Goldblum and Yeoh, but is spearheaded by two superb leads in Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Both actresses are perfect in this movie, both bring so much charm and charisma to their roles, and both light up the screen at every opportunity.
As Elphaba, Erivo is strong, confident, and compassionate. She delivers a compelling screen presence, and makes Elphaba’s journey from hero to eventual villain so fascinating to watch.
Meanwhile Grande is an absolute treat. As Galinda, Grande is pretty, self-assured, and hilarious, with a performance that is no-less than mesmerising.
Together, Erivo and Grande are brilliant. Not only do they complement each other in the acting department, they also have the pipes to blast out the film’s songbook.
But moving beyond the lead stars, the rest of the cast are top notch too, with the aforementioned Goldblum and Yeoh fabulous, and Jonathan Bailey another highlight as the dashing Prince Fiyero Tigelaar. Casting directors Tiffany Little Canfield and Bernard Telsey did a bang-up job with this film and deserve a pat on the back, so well done!
Outside of the cast, pretty much everything else about Wicked: Part I just works. From the sound and lighting, to the hair and make-up, the costuming, and the sets – it’s all beautifully crafted and realised, and there’s even room for some marvellous cameos too.
Yes, all of it has an air of theatricality about it, and occasionally you are pulled out of the film during one or two stagey moments, but it’s difficult to knock what is on offer. Director Chu has a clear handle on things, knows the story he wants to tell, and delivers it with passion and conviction.
And most important of all, he leaves the audience wanting more. The final act – which features fan-favourite tune, ‘Defying Gravity’ – creates exactly the right hook for Part II and I’d be surprised if few people go away disinterested in what will come next.
The lengthy running time aside, Wicked: Part I is a triumph. It manages to improve upon the stage show by delivering a fully immersive experience which builds to a rousing finale.
Erivo and Grande are fantastic, the story works perfectly well for this opening instalment, and the magic of Oz is all there. Defying Gravity remains the film’s best song, and it’s fair to say most of the other songs pale in comparison, but other than this, Wicked: Part I delivers.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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