‘Wicked: For Good’ Review: An Epic Tale of Friendship

Last year we were left with only half of the story. Now we finally have the rest, but is it as good as the first? Wicked: For Good picks up exactly where we left off. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) has gone on her own, determined to reveal the lies of the wizard, and Glinda (Ariana Grande) has become a public figure to keep spirits bright and spread lies. Their paths that once felt intertwined are now severed. Forced to play into the roles they were given, the two best friends must use their current positions to finally change all of Oz for good. With some nods to The Wizard of Oz, Wicked: For Good is an epic tale of friendship and asking what it truly means to be wicked or good. Read our full review of Wicked: For Good below. 

Wicked: For Good is Ariana Grande’s movie. When she was cast, I said that if she can pull off all of Glinda’s emotional beats and complex arc in act two, then she will be giving one of the best performances of the year. She did just that. Glinda, as a character is so easy to hate. She is reveling in her own privilege until she has no choice but to take the rose-colored glasses off. Unlike Elphaba, she is able to bend her morals for her own gain. Making her all too familiar and incredibly interesting to watch. Grande plays her with so much earnestness and charm that you can not help but love her. The true magic of these Wicked movies is how these two actresses have made you invest in the characters. Erivo and Grande put their entire heart into these films and it shows. Every emotional beat feels earned, and it’s all thanks to them. Erivo this time around, is just as spectacular as the first film. Her character is not given as complex of an arc. She is set in her convictions and Erivo plays her with subtlety. Grande is more showy, but Erivo still does not miss a step. Both of them deserve awards recognition this year for carrying these movies on their shoulders. 

Last year, after part one’s release, it was announced that there would be two original songs in Wicked: For Good. As someone who detests studios adding new songs to preexisting musicals, for it feels like a blatant desire for the best original song Oscar nomination, I was sceptical when I heard this. Luckily, one song was a welcome inclusion, but unfortunately the other was not. Glinda’s new song, “The Girl in the Bubble,” is the real winner. Not only is the song sung beautifully by Grande and given a subdued yet charming melody, but the lyrical content is extremely strong. Not only does it make you understand Glinda’s character better, but drives an especially important message of how living with the privilege of complacency is a hollow way to live. Really highlighting why this story has been so popular throughout the years, because it is ever-relevant. The scene where the song is performed is also one of the best shot sequences of the film; swirling throughout the room and going in and out of mirrors. Hats off to Chu and Brooks for shooting this scene in a way that was interesting to look at and enhanced the themes in a clever way. Elphaba’s new song, “No Place Like Home,” is sadly nothing to write home about. I see what they were trying to accomplish, but it ultimately becomes one of the film’s weaker moments. 

The only place where the film falters is in its visuals. It has the same problem as Wicked: Part One. The colors feel muted, there are scenes with abhorrent back lighting, and it is ugly compared to the visual grandeur of 1939’s The Wizard of Oz. Director Jon M. Chu in an interview claimed he wanted the film to be more immersive and have a realistic look. So it is desaturated. Yet it does not look real, because Oz is not a real place and the idea that people can not resonate with a story based on the color grading is laughable. Chu’s decision will go down as one of the most disappointing decisions in film adaptation history. Wicked: For Good does look a little better than part one, since there are no scenes where I am squinting because I can not make out someone’s face. It is a small improvement, but the cinematography still does not have my seal of approval. 

One common critic I can see being thrown at this film is that the songs are not as memorable. This is a completely valid statement. The plot and themes take the forefront in act two, making it thrilling narratively but lacking in some ways musically. When I saw the show live three years ago, my main complaint was that the second act felt incredibly rushed. It was the most enthralling part of the musical for me, but I felt cheated of what it could be with a better pace or more time. That is why I love Wicked: For Good so much. All of those gripes I had with the source material are fixed. If you are invested in the story, the themes, or the characters you will most likely love this film. Wicked: For Good is about more than just Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship, but the dangers of power when in the wrong hands. How people in positions of power will weaponize propaganda or others prejudices to sway public opinion, control, and oppress. Getting to see this half of the story finally breathe was a true gift. While the portrayal of these themes is not the most nuanced in film history, it presents them in an easily understandable way to a broad audience who need to hear this message now more than ever. 

Wicked: For Good was directed by Jon M. Chu and stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh. The film was released in theaters on November 21. 

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