Wicked opens in theaters Friday, November 22.
Wicked does not simply defy gravity – it defies some extremely excessive expectations, too. As a large fan of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s Tony-winning origin story for the witches of Oz, I used to be cautious of any try to show the stage present into a movie. But Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights director Jon M. Chu unwinds Wicked with large perception into what I and different followers love about it within the first place. As the long run Good Witch of the South and Wicked Witch of the West, respectively, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo ship masterful and passionate performances that make them the proper Elphaba and Glinda for this era of musical followers – no small feat for roles originated by Broadway legends Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.
Early glimpses of the movie raised fears that it’d tormented by the identical visual-effects issues as so many different modern-day blockbusters, however Wicked is as tactile on the display screen as it’s on the stage. I can guarantee you: The halls and dorms occupied by Elphaba, Glinda, and their classmates at Shiz University aren’t flat, lifeless CGI creations. The intricately designed units elevate the choreography of every musical quantity and are used to nice impact in comedic songs like “Popular.” “Dancing Through Life” triumphantly interprets the enjoyment of seeing Wicked dwell: Dancers carry out acrobatics in rotating round bookshelves, Jonathan Bailey (who I swear has chemistry with each single particular person on the planet) faucets his method throughout books with a flippancy completely suited to the charismatic prince Fiyero, and the ensemble works (and sings!) in concord. Early on, “The Wizard and I” was the primary track to show to me Erivo, together with her expressive efficiency and vocal prowess, was the proper Elphaba. In the identical method, “Dancing Through Life”’s exuberant choreography marked the second the place I stated to myself: Oh, this film will get it.
In true musical vogue, the massive ensemble numbers are the place Wicked is at its greatest. Choreographer Christopher Scott brilliantly performs to the exceptional manufacturing design from Nathan Crowley, significantly through the maximalist “One Short Day.” Chu has all the time excelled at capturing cinematic opulence, so it is sensible that he’d have the ability to mix all of those parts into one thing so vigorous.
The aforementioned “Popular” – during which Glinda counsels Elphaba on learn how to slay at Shiz – deserves a spotlight too. Its frothy, frilly, and, after all, very pink playground really unites the characters and reminds the viewers of the improbability of their fierce friendship. Grande shows unbelievable mastery of her physique as she performs riotous bodily comedy amid the taffeta and tulle. It’s one among her largest strengths as Glinda, who’s all the time been a completely humorous character. From her line supply to the delightfully bewildering method she tosses her hair, she continuously jogged my memory – and I imply this as the very best potential praise – of a Muppet.
Grande brings a zaniness to Glinda that makes the character. She applies her operatic vibrato to probably the most ridiculous lyrics and dominates the display screen with all of the aura one may anticipate of a worldwide popstar. There’s an effervescence to her efficiency, and she or he carries herself with magnificence and outlandishness unexpectedly. It by no means detracts from the extra emotional performances – significantly when the temper of the movie dramatically shifts within the third act – and she or he by no means overpowers Erivo. The two synchronize like they have been born for it, their real connection heightening the emotional stakes of the ultimate minutes of the movie. (This is the place we must always word that Wicked covers solely the primary act of the musical: Part II, and every little thing that comes after the anthemic “Defying Gravity,” will hit theaters subsequent 12 months.)
Erivo is reserved however by no means fades into the background, the place Grande is boisterous with out ever taking over an excessive amount of area. Wicked solely works in case your Elphaba and Glinda discover that delicate steadiness, and it is instantly clear of their first scene collectively that Chu and firm definitely knew that. Their vocals are unsurprisingly unbelievable however it’s the quiet moments they share, too, that carry as a lot weight. Honestly, it’s tough to be coherent about simply how a lot these two made me really feel. But I can say I started and ended the film in tears.
As Elphaba, Cynthia Erivo is a real revelation. I used to be in awe of the artistry she brings to probably the most iconic characters in musical-theater historical past. I knew she’d be good however I wasn’t ready for simply how good. Snippets of her rendition of “Defying Gravity” have leaked right here and there, however nothing compares to listening to it within the theater for the primary time. It’s enrapturing, a hymn on the altar of resistance – resistance to doubt, to disgrace, to what others need you to be. It’s onerous to not hear “Defying Gravity” and every little thing it stands for as a rallying cry at a time of rising bigotry that targets girls, queer folks, trans folks, and other people of colour. That’s to not say one knockout efficiency from Erivo will save us, however there’s the smallest of comforts in watching her ship the track like a roar, giving us an Elphaba who will settle for the trimmings of villainy if it means doing the great, ethical factor.
Not every little thing works visually in Wicked. The animal characters fall right into a CGI entice of types, hailing from the identical uncanny valley because the characters of Disney’s “live-action” remakes of The Jungle Book and The Lion King. On stage, characters just like the professorial goat Dr. Dillamond (Peter Dinklage) are costumed as human-animal hybrids – together with the flying monkeys, who’re as unsettling now as they have been when terrorizing Dorothy and associates in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz – rendering the Wizard’s true plans much more horrifying. Considering Wicked’s (sadly, very prescient) allegory of state-sanctioned discrimination, it might have been attention-grabbing to go for extra humanoid character designs.
Colors additionally really feel oddly washed out in moments. The Shiz courtyard falls sufferer to this – attractive however not fairly giving that colourful fantasticality one would anticipate from an Ozian college. Despite all its strengths, “Dancing Through Life” suffers from this too. The quantity is constructed of two distinct halves: at Shiz and at a membership referred to as the Oz Dust Ballroom. In, one imagines, purposeful distinction to the intensely saturated Oz Dust, the Shiz library is way more subdued. However, there are moments the place characters, Grande and her pink pastels particularly, mix into their environment in a method that doesn’t appear all that intentional. There’s a bit an excessive amount of gentle from the home windows, not fairly sufficient distinction throughout the set. The Emerald City doesn’t have this downside although, nor do particular areas of Shiz like Glinda and Elphaba’s bed room or the workplace of headmistress Madame Morrible.
Beyond these comparatively minor flaws, Wicked is a really trustworthy adaptation of a beloved musical, and the movie has a few surprises up its sleeve (together with one explicit cameo that bought my viewers cheering). It’s a protracted movie, sitting at roughly two hours and forty minutes, however it by no means drags. Holzman’s e book (which she tailored for the display screen with Cruella co-writer Dana Fox) is simply as highly effective within the arms of this solid and, mercifully, Chu does justice to Schwartz’s resplendent music and lyrics. The sound mixing means the cleverly constructed wordplay in his phrases rings clear, by no means too overpowered by orchestration or muddled throughout large musical numbers. The solid’s voices are crisp, their emotion strikes true. It’s clear Chu endeavored to take immense care to honor Wicked and, as a longtime fan, I’m grateful he did. Considering how starkly the temper adjustments within the second act of the stage present – which we see a little bit of right here – I do surprise simply how he’ll observe up.
Grande and Erivo, although, are who I preserve coming again to. They’re a Glinda and Elphaba I’ll proceed to consider and I already know Erivo’s “Defying Gravity” might be on my rotation as typically as Menzel’s. Not to be cliché, but when Wicked is the solar, I’m the comet pulled from orbit and watching this adaptation has positively modified me for good.
