WICKED: FOR GOOD
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Colman Domingo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum
Director: Jon M. Chu
I’ve been told the second act of Wicked’s stage play is the inferior one, and if true, I wish director Jon M. Chu would’ve extended Wicked: For Good’s runtime to add new depth to this conclusion. Complex characters are still performed wonderfully by an excellent cast, and the darker tones create compelling scenes. But whereas Wicked was an original story (within the world of Oz) fleshed out over a long runtime, For Good was rushed, weighed down, and sometimes downright boring due to its mandate to connect to legacy characters. I ultimately enjoyed the film, but I won’t remember any songs this time round.
ADRIANO
Wicked: For Good concludes this two-part film event with a disappointing finale. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande still do their damnedest to elevate Jon M. Chu's flat musical direction that makes even the most stunning set designs look ugly. However, unlike last year's Wicked, this one lacks great storytelling, as much of the emotional stakes don't land, the connections to The Wizard of Oz are clumsy, and the arcs aren't satisfying. Granted, I've heard the play has these issues as well, but if you can't elevate the flaws of the source material, that's a failed adaptation in my eyes.
KATIE
Wicked: For Good is a moving and satisfying conclusion to this two-part musical extravaganza. Whilst it does suffer some of the same issues as the first film, namely the oddly flat colour palette and sometimes uncanny CGI, I preferred For Good and its somewhat darker tone. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s lead performances as Glinda and Elphaba are simply magnificent. I enjoyed how it approaches the characters’ from The Wizard of Oz’s involvement in the story, which doesn’t take focus away from the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba. I laughed, shed a tear, and most importantly, was entertained.
