Wicked Review: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Make Magic
Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical is a visually extravagant, emotionally rich experience anchored by two extraordinary performances.
Wicked
In the land of Oz, ostracized and misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba is forced to share a room with the popular aristocrat Glinda at Shiz University, and the two's unlikely friendship is tested as they begin to fulfill their respective destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Adapting one of Broadway's most beloved musicals for the screen is a high-wire act, and Jon M. Chu — who proved his musical credentials with Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights — mostly pulls it off with style. Wicked is a visually extravagant, emotionally generous film that will satisfy devotees and win new converts alike.
Two Performances That Justify Everything
The film rises and falls on Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and both deliver. Erivo's Elphaba is a revelation — fierce, vulnerable, and possessed of a vocal power that makes "Defying Gravity" feel genuinely earned rather than inevitable. Grande, to the pleasant surprise of many skeptics, matches her scene for scene as Glinda, finding real depth beneath the character's dizzy exterior.
Their chemistry is the film's beating heart. The friendship that develops between two women who seem to have nothing in common is rendered with warmth and specificity, making the tragedy of their eventual estrangement feel genuinely devastating.
Oz Reimagined
Production designer Nathan Crowley constructs an Oz that feels both familiar and freshly imagined — grand in scale, detailed in texture, and coherent as a world. Chu stages the musical numbers with infectious energy, particularly "Popular" and the show-stopping first act finale.
The Part One Problem
The film's most significant weakness is structural: this is only the first half of the story. The narrative stops rather than concludes, leaving audiences with what feels like an extended setup for Part Two. For audiences unfamiliar with the stage show, this may feel frustrating. Those who know the story can calibrate their expectations accordingly.
The Verdict
Wicked is a film that deserves to be seen with the largest, most enthusiastic audience possible. Its pleasures are communal — it's made for the theatrical experience. Just be prepared to wait for the conclusion.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Erivo and Grande are both exceptional
- ✅ Visually inventive and consistently gorgeous
- ✅ Musical numbers are energetically staged
- ✅ The friendship at the center feels genuinely real
- ❌ Ends abruptly as Part One of two
- ❌ Runtime is demanding at 160 minutes
Wicked
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