Wicked has been out for some time now, and I did my best to avoid it—much like I tried to avoid COVID. But after months of dodging my daughter’s persistent requests, I finally gave in and rented it on Prime. Before pressing play, I braced myself for what I expected to be over two hours of excessive theatrics and non-stop singing.
I was already skeptical, largely because of the overwhelming hype surrounding the film and its lead actors. Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba, the Wicked Witch) had turned me off with her dramatic public persona—especially when she called a fan-made recreation of the Wicked movie poster “the most insulting thing that has ever happened” to her. She just always struck me as one of those artists who constantly remind you that they’re artists. Then there was Ariana Grande, whose soft-spoken demeanor and often dazed expression never quite convinced me of her acting chops. With all the anticipation surrounding this movie, I wasn’t eager to get caught up in the frenzy.
But I have to admit—I was pleasantly surprised.
The storytelling was strong, and to my surprise, Cynthia Erivo delivered a phenomenal performance. While I’m personally not a fan of her shaved-head look, I have to say she looked fantastic in green, and her acting was undeniably compelling. More importantly, her voice was incredible, as expected. The same goes for Ariana Grande—whatever doubts I had about her acting were countered by the fact that her singing ability was as impressive as ever.
One of my biggest concerns going in was that the film would be overloaded with songs, but it struck a good balance. There were plenty of musical numbers, yet they never overshadowed the plot. The pacing felt right, allowing the story to unfold naturally without being drowned in theatrics.
Now, I went into this without having seen the Broadway show or knowing much about Wicked beyond the fact that it’s a Wizard of Oz prequel. The film tells the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West, giving us a new perspective on the classic tale. It completely recontextualizes The Wizard of Oz, showing just how shady and manipulative the Wizard truly was. It also explores the deep friendship between Glinda (the Good Witch of the North) and Elphaba, highlighting how Elphaba was ostracized—bullied by classmates and mistreated by her own father simply because of her green skin.
The film also explains key elements of the Wizard of Oz universe, including the origins of the flying monkeys, how Oz came into power, and why animals in that world can talk. By the end of Wicked, I found myself feeling genuinely bad for the Wicked Witch of the West. It’s rare for a film to take a classic villain and make you root for them, but Wicked does just that.
With Wicked: Part Two set to release later this year, I can’t help but hope for a continuation beyond the prequel—perhaps even a Wizard of Oz 2 where the Wicked Witch of the West is resurrected and finally gets her revenge. After all, when you really think about it, the original Wizard of Oz is about a con-artist Wizard who manipulates a young girl into murdering someone for his own benefit. That’s pretty twisted.
But I digress—Wicked was a great watch. Whether you’re planning a date night or looking for a movie to enjoy with your kids, it’s well worth the time. Part Two can’t come soon enough.
