Wicked: For Good review

 

Those familiar with the Wicked musical will know that the second half is the flipside of the peppy first act navigating the story towards darker places while lacking in show stopping songs. This sequel follows suit doubling down on the grimmer side of this tale while weaving in familiar Wizard of Oz iconography in what can sometimes prove an awkward storytelling choice. Nonetheless what it does have are the always impressive performances of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo to lift it higher.

 

The action picks up some years after the events of the first film with Elphaba clearly public enemy number one courtesy of scare stories generated by Madame Morrible, the real villain of the story. While the Wizard seems happiest playing with trains, she is manipulating opinion and doing his dirty work.  These have inspired fear across the land cannily represented with a similarly staged opening sequence to the first film that kicks things off with a flourish.

We’re worlds away from the pastel world of Shizz University with Elphaba living in what looks like an old hollowed out tree attempting to counter the propaganda against her with sudden appearances that only reinforce it. The poor girl cannot catch a break though one person still likes her- Fiyero, now a guard captain and no longer dancing through life but a secretly reluctant soldier for the Wizard. He’s due to marry Glinda though not through choice and being so close to power sees the injustices happening first hand. He still hankers after Elphaba even though he has to pretend to lead the hunt for her. Glinda believes he loves her, after all their wedding is imminent.

It’s a classic love triangle complicated by the overlapping storylines involving Elphaba’s sister Nessarose and the Munchkin Bok whose relationship has changed now she is the governor. Essentially, they are all unhappy people who would rather things were different. It’s not exactly fodder for uplifting or amusing songs so much of the music involves either reprises of part one’s tunes with a more regretful feel. The exception is `For Good`, a song delivered with real feeling and conviction that sums up How Elphaba and Glinda have affected and changed each other.

Rather than simply calling it `part two`, the Wicked:For Good title is a clever indication underscoring the story’s preoccupation with things not being quite as they appear to be. It also reflects Elphaba’s ultimate rather sad realisation that despite her good intentions everything she has done has led to heartache and disaster thus her eventual resolution to just be wicked (for good) from now on.

Cynthis Erivo brings a harder maturity to this role, her every move in this sometimes cluttered production adds authenticity. The most impressive thing is that she is able to convey the passing years and change of tone even though both films were shot at once. This is an older, less coy Elphaba who has made good her resolve to `defy gravity` by defying the Wizard. She's even abandoned her unusual glasses! We see her soaring out of nowhere to try and free slave animals building the yellow brick road or writing messages in the clouds in smoke.  At one point I was watching her singing in a decaying castle surrounded by flying monkeys (still scarier than any Wizard) and it struck me how weird this looks yet how she was channelling the deeper emotions of the scene perfectly. When Elphaba swishes her increasingly voluminous cloak it seems to be an expression of both her growing power but also the regret.

Ariana Grande is called upon to be more than the somewhat frothier superficial Glinda of the first film who was obsessed with looks and popularity. Its a challenge she meets brilliantly as the character becomes increasingly bemused and betrayed by happenings. Glinda’s story is less showy than Elphaba’s but every bit as absorbing and definitely show what a strong actor Ariana Grande is.

Wisely the narrative allows them several meetings to maximise the chemistry. Together (the characters share more scenes than they do in the stage show) they are magnetic conveying a complicated friendship that endures despite what has happened.. Their friendship seems real and relatable, the additional material from screenwriters Dana Foxx and Winnie Holzman expands on this aspect as the stage show’s second half only runs for forty five minutes.

What is around them however is a little too busy, reaching to include multiple Wizard of Oz elements into an already busy story sometimes with distracting results. Though there is a marvellously staged moment near the end using shadows for the most part it takes away from the story and has also ignited some debate over how well this all fits with established Oz lore. The Scarecrow’s story from that vintage film just doesn’t fit in with the plot so is avoided awkwardly or else it feels like material was cut. 

More broadly however the film does a robust job of shading in some of Oz’s less virtuous practises. We see how animals are treated and the idea that being discriminated against and caged literally takes away their ability to speak. Somehow making us side with someone who in the Wizard of Oz was a cackling maniac is quite a feat to pull off because this Elphaba is a very relatable. There’s nothing quite as moving as the Ozdust dance scene here but Elphaba’s efforts to help the animals pack a punch. If her being green seems too obvious an allegory for racism and discrimination, the two films together don’t flinch from the issue. There’s a case for making more of Madame Morrible’s intentions though; even her name seems intentionally obvious. She sometimes seems to be there because the film needs a proper, heartless villain and the Wizard is too vague but what brought her to this? With Elphaba and Glinda’s stories so well essayed this feels like a notable absence and makes her seem a one note character though Michelle Yeoh has a real on screen presence.

John M Chu’s direction and Alice Brooks’ cinematography make sure they show the extensive sets. The Emerald City looks fabulous while one standout scene sees the camera follow Glinda around her lavish apartment but every time we think it’s her reflection in a mirror it’s not. Another striking image is the transformation of mild Boq into a very angry Tin Man, the prosthetics are amazing and Ethan Slater’s performance underneath it all very powerful. Less effective and somewhat rushes is Nessarose being quickly put out of the picture when Dorothy’s house drops on her. It just seems so random she would be at that place at that moment.

The last shot of the film is a flashback to when Glinda and Elphaba were friends and reproduces the famous image that promotes the stage show of Glinda whispering g something in Elphaba’s ear. Apparently not even the director knows what she says.

I don’t think Wicked: For Good  is quite as strong as its predecessor only because he more downbeat storyline doesn’t lend itself as well to the musical format. Somehow it never quite reaches either the emotional intensity or the childlike joy of the first film but its still an achievement, still a rich and interesting tale of two mismatched but ultimately sincere friends.