Last year, part 1 of WICKED hit theaters and became an instant phenomenon. I hated it. Like, seriously, hated it. I think it’s a really bad movie and you can read my review here. With that said, part 2, WICKED: FOR GOOD is actually not terrible! I mean, it’s not great, but it’s definitely better than the first half. And being a little better feels crazy positive. So here is my comparatively glowing review of a fairly basic, average at best, messy, mid-tier movie in WICKED: FOR GOOD.
After the nearly 3 hour unoriginal slog about school kids being mean in last year’s WICKED, WICKED FOR GOOD actually has stuff happen and provides a little originality in how it creatively connects to the original perfection that is THE WIZARD OF OZ. We left off with the show-stopping number, “Defying Gravity” as Elphaba (Cynthia Erivio) has her flying powers and is now trying to reveal the dark truth about the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (played with wryly silliness from Jeff Goldblum). However, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and the Wizard have made powerless Glinda (Ariana Grande) the face of power, keeping the rhetoric that ugly is evil and Elphaba should be called the Wicked Witch of the West. Glinda and Fiyero (Jonathan Baily) are beginning to question these motives and intentions as they still want to help their friend Elphaba. Glinda, particularly, is seduced by this new power, love, and attention she is receiving from the people of Oz. Not to mention playing with her new flying bubble car. Everything is quickly coming to a head with an unsuspecting visit from a Kansas girl named Dorthy and her house dropping from the sky.
With the exception of “For Good” and “No Good Deed,” a song I really enjoyed, the musical numbers in WICKED FOR GOOD are just not up to the powerful catchy standards of “Popular” or “Defying Gravity.” But to be fair, I wasn’t wowed by most of the songs from either film. While music in musicals are important, we are still watching a story in a film production. The art direction and costuming are all once again fabulous. The story is better, because there is action actually taking place. Sure it’s goofy action, but that’s okay when you’re taking ownership as a goofy popcorn movie rather than an important Oscar winner. And neither film is to that standard and that’s why my push pack is so hard when WICKED is being considered as high art. But the big difference is the pacing. WICKED: FOR GOOD rushes through the story quickly almost to a fault with some storylines feeling abrupt. But that is a good thing by comparison, because WICKED just doesn’t have enough meat on the bone as far as character, story, and over all quality worth dwelling upon. Let’s just keep this light and fun folks and not try to make an epic-size soap-opera.
At 2 hours and 18 minutes, WICKED FOR GOOD is nearly a half an hour shorter than its predecessor, which is a massive improvement. Both films could be cut shorter still though. In fact, both films should be chopped up, shedding 30 minutes from this one and an hour and half from the first film. Put them both together to create a far more fast-paced, enjoyable story in one film that matches the length of the stage musical. I can think of so many unnecessary song numbers or moments that could easily be removed or shortened by just flagging each time I checked the time or desired to glance at my phone. Picture me whispering a secret in your ear saying like the book cover as I say… it was a lot!
I was lucky enough to bring my entire family to the PG-rated WICKED: FOR GOOD screening. And for that, I am very thankful, because my kids really enjoyed it, which makes me love the experience. However, they too have notes. My 9-year old son noticed a continuity issue for the scarecrow character getting from one place to the next, while my daughter talked a lot about the abrupt turn of Elphaba’s sister Nesarose (Marissa Bode) being labeled the Wicked Witch of the East and the sudden “physical” love between two of the characters, which is simply “cringe.” And we all were a little irritated at the lazy trope of lazily writing characters who will not explain further when there is a misunderstanding as the catalyst for inciting conflict in the plot. “Just tell her that it’s not true.” is what my son yelled at the screen. If only it was that simple, my children. Wait, they’re right! It is that simple.
Nonetheless, we all enjoyed tying in the connections to our beloved, THE WIZARD OF OZ. Visually, it was nice that the once famous ruby slippers were simply silver of presumed diamond mineral, so we can treat WICKED more as a reimagining of the story rather than an alternate point of view of the same story. Honestly, that is my only way to cope with toying with that beloved classic. Don’t mess with a masterpiece. There are many changes in this respect and it was fun playing detective seeing how it all connects in ridiculous ways and what changes are made for our favorite characters in the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow. My family actually had fun laughing about it. And in that sense, WICKED: FOR GOOD is a fun, creative conclusion to the story. The two charismatic leads in Erivo and Grande are fantastic in these playful roles in a fairly beautiful, colorful production. These elements help the movie to be light entertainment, nothing more. It’s just a shame you have to sit through so much bad, when there is a good movie worthy of the title buried in the unnecessary length of the two movies together. As it stands, perhaps minus the music, WICKED: FOR GOOD is the better half.
