Wicked: Part I

Wicked: Part I is just about as close to a perfect stage to screen adaptation as you can get. Director Jon M. Chu handles the content and characters with respect and consideration. Fans of the musical – which I am one – are protective of this property. Seeing it done so well was a relief and very exciting.

Synopsis: Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.

I feel for whoever had to write the synopsis for Wicked. The complexity, power, and beauty of this story can not be summed up in a few sentences. But you get the point. Whether you have seen the musical version or you go into this one blind there are still so many emotional moments and wonderful verses about love, friendship, expectance, and finding your true self. It is also a tragedy watching Elphaba’s journey. We have known since 1939 – when the Wizard of Oz came out – how things end up. But Wicked allows us to see that not all we think to be, is.

Even as a fan of the musical and having seen it many times on stage it was nice to see the relationships and conversations have the ability to expound and go a tad deeper. The songs are still important but they do not always shine a light on what else is happening. This film version is able to take the songs we love and then move them into dialogue seamlessly.

Those concerned if Erivo and Grande could deliver these memorable characters in both song and personality should rest easy. Grande especially brings what might be the best Glinda yet. Sorry Kristin Chenoweth, but it is true. Grande takes what we love – and hate – about Glinda and seems to make them even more engaging and endearing. We all know she can belt out the tunes, but she also is a very humorous actress. She does not stray away from the comedy but embraces it.

Erivo too gives a performance that will introduce Elphaba to even more fans. Her story is tragedy from birth. Coming out green and having her father reject her. Never being excepted due to an outward appearance that masks the power within. When she attends the legendary Shiz University she finally gets her chance to shine. Just when she seems to be on the good path for the first time her path again turns anything but golden.

Jon M Chu makes smart decisions too in regard to the set design and use of practical effects. The on screen colors and beautiful cinematography turn the world of WICKED into a glorious big screen experience. If you are doing the math you might be trying to figure out how a three-hour musical can turn into two films each over two and a half hours long. That is almost two hours of additional footage. There are scenes added that are not in the stage version. There is argument on whether they add anything or not. Yes the dialogue is needed, but incorporating additional full blown numbers might not have been the best use of time.

WICKED is rated PG for some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material. The story is important and the content maybe a little deep for super young viewrs to grasp. But there is nothing to shy away from. Also the 2:40 run time might be a bit much for little people attention spans.

I am pleased with this film. As someone who wanted this story to hit the big screen for decades now that it was here I was worried that it would not do justice. I am glad to admit I was wrong. This is a film I will watch over and over, and I am excited for people who have never seen it on stage to have the opportunity to experience it anew.

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