By: Nelson Kramer

Humor Editor

 When Universal Pictures announced that they were adapting Wicked, the iconic Broadway sensation, into a live-action movie, the huge fanbase went into complete panic. After all, Wicked is not just any other musical–it is a cultural phenomenon, with a story about two young women who find kinship in their differences. The plot resonates with so many people as it depicts the universal struggle for connection and meaning while also being entertaining. As someone who has spent countless car rides belting out Defying Gravity and cried during the Broadway production, I was ecstatic to see the first takes at what would be a mere sliver of the greatness encompassed throughout the entire movie.

Visually, the film pulls out all the stops. From the shimmering streets of the Emerald City to the earthy, enchanted forests of Munchkinland, every frame feels rich and alive. The director, Jon M. Chu, said that they tried to do as little CGI as possible, planting nine-million poppies for the opening scene and building the entire large-scale Emerald City. Along with the scenery, the costume team recreated the original looks with a bit of flair, as they balanced the magical feeling of Shizz Academy with the sophistication of a multi-million dollar movie set. Overall, one of the biggest challenges that production faced was including the raw, emotional moments without overshadowing them with impressive visuals, and yet they pulled through. The star-studded cast blew all of our expectations out of the way; in an interview, Cynthia Erivo detailed the process of filming, highlighting the fact that she had to sing while doing her stunts.

The reason the story of Wicked connects with a diverse audience is because the audience can perceive it in so many ways, relate to so many different situations, and never lose its message about embracing your differences. In a world where being an outsider can sometimes feel like a social crime, a lot of people feel trapped in their own lives. The Broadway show and movie Wicked has proved itself important to the LGBTQ+ community not only because it’s a musical but also because it has an inspirational message of accepting your differences and turning them into your superpower. 

Performance-wise, the star-studded cast delivers a stupendous show for two and a half hours. Cynthia Erivo, as Elphaba, provides a powerful, profoundly human portrayal of the misunderstood. Her performance anchors the movie, bringing vulnerability and fire to the role. Ariana Grande’s Glinda gives the audience the fun, bubbly, and dopey character that we know and love from the Broadway musical. Grande’s performance doesn’t aim to outshine Erivo or the original actress Kristin Chenoweth, and yet she still delivers.

This movie was part 1, as the story ended where the Broadway show’s intermission would be. The second part will be out in November of next year and promises great things. Chu said, “If movie one is about choices, movie two is about consequences.” Many are excited about part two because part one provided them with the expertly done movie they had anticipated for over 12 years. Overall, Wicked is a smash hit in theaters, with audiences all over the country amping up to run back to the big screens when the sing-a-long version comes out.

(Sources: CNN, The Hollywood Reporter, WRAL News)