by: Jane Wilde
Humor Editor
Warning: Spoilers
On Nov. 21, the highly anticipated Wicked For Good was released. Within its first week of release, the film has already made nearly 400 million dollars at the box office.. For Good is based on the Broadway musical’s second act and has been in the works for over four years. The film is, as expected, more melancholy than the first, as Ozians continue the vicious hunt for the supposedly wicked witch, Elphaba. Although it is not the most upbeat film, it will surely leave a lasting impression like a “handprint on your heart.”
The first half of the film predominantly focuses on Elphaba’s attempts to unveil the wizard’s corruption and save the animals from lifelong oppression. As for Glinda, she slowly begins to realize the political system she’s a part of is built on lies, as she has no real powers like Elphaba. As Glinda battles between her perfect image and doing what is right, Fiyero remains forcefully by her side, although his heart still lies with Elphaba. The film does an excellent job of providing meaningful flashbacks of the characters to explain their behaviors. For example, it shows glimpses of Glinda’s childhood, where, in response to her crying about not having powers, her mother tells her, “everyone loves you, that’s all you’ll ever need,” subsequently resulting in her lifelong need for external validation.
It’s no secret that the first act includes more iconic songs than the second; however, I found these ones to be just as enjoyable. A personal favorite song of mine was “The Girl in the Bubble,” sung by Glinda, played by the infamous pop singer Ariana Grande. The song is about Glinda realizing she can no longer hide behind the facade of “goodness” when she had no real powers to begin with. Another one of my favorites, and perhaps the most well-known, is “For Good.” The beautiful, touching ballad tells the story of the two girls’ undeniable impact on each other. From the brilliantly crafted melody to the effortless live vocals, For Good is easily the best song in the film.
My main and only critique has to do with director Jon Chu’s choice of ending. Gregory McGuire, the author of Wicked, created the story to emphasize the importance of friendship. However, Wicked for Good ends with Elphaba stealing Glinda’s fiancé and leaving Oz with him. Since friendship is such a foundational part of this story, it was distasteful to watch Elphaba leave Glinda, not even telling her that Fiyero is still alive after Glinda thought he had died. It seemed as though the story gravitated towards Elphaba and Fiyero’s love story rather than the most essential part of the plot, the unexpected bond between Glinda and Elphaba.
Although the film didn’t quite meet my expectations (they were quite high to begin with), I would still consider it a must-watch. From the live vocals to the fantastical sets, Wicked For Good is a well-crafted, emotionally resonant film that is great for the whole family.
Sources: The New York Times