I went to see the New Wicked film at the cinema recently, after being curious since seeing the trailer and hearing people talk about it. I enjoy musical theatre, fantasy themed type programmes and films and I enjoyed seeing Wicked the musical going back a few years at the theatre. I went in with an open mind and sat down for what was a 2 hours and 40 minutes long film. This is very long for a film, and that wasn’t including the adverts, but I sat down never the less with my popcorn and a soft drink to watch it.
The film follows the story of two witches, set before the famous story of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ who meet at Shiz University and form an unlikely friendship. Elphaba (played by Synthia Erivo) is a bit of an outcast, different and struggles to fit in whilst Glinda (played by Ariana Grande) is popular, girly with a wardrobe full of pink. They get told to share a room by the schools Dean of Sorcery – Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) after she witnesses Elphaba accidently show her powers at the university.
Madam Morrible wowed with what she witnessed of Elephabas powers offers to private tutor her in Sorcery. Elphaba excitedly takes up her offer and hopes that she will in turn get to meet the Wizard of Oz. (Jeff Goldblum) Elphaba has a sister called Nessarose (Marissa Bode) who is disabled and is given the task by her father to look after and look out for Nessarose whilst at university.
Glinda and Elphaba go to a lecture by a character called Dr Dillomond (voiced by Peter Dinkerlidge) who is one of the animal professors at the University in the form of a talking goat. He tells Elphaba, Glinda and the students that animals are losing their ability to speak and worried that he may well be next.
A new student called Fiyero (played by Jonathan Bailey) catches the eye of Glinda and they get more aqaintated and closer at a party in which Elphaba experiences hostility and ridicule from the students there. Glinda, feeling guilty as she persuaded Elphaba to wear something which the students mock and laugh at has a change of heart and shows Elphaba kindness and befriends her.
She does things like give her a makeover to which the well known musical number ‘Popular’ is sung and performed. I was impressed not only with Arianas acting in the role of Glinda which suited her very well, but her vocal ability. Previously to watching the film, I’ve only ever heard her use her pop voice, but this film showcases what she can do vocally with a more classical use of her voice. I think that because of this alot of people will be surprised when they see and hear her.
After this Dr Dillamond announces his retirement to the class and is taken out of the classroom forcefully much the dismay of Elphaba.
Elphaba soon gets an invite to meet The Wizard of Oz who has heard about her talent in Sorcery then travels to meet him taking Glinda with her. The Wizard sees her talent when when along with Madame Morrible who turns up encourages her to read from a famous and powerful book of spells and is blown away with how talented she is and asks if Elphaba can work with him.
From then on, Elphaba realises that the Wizard is behind the animals losing their ability to speak and their rights and that she was coaxed in to and used for her power to use the book of spells which apon reading gives the monkeys who are guards for the Wizard the ability to sprout wings which cause the monkeys pain and discomfort. She flees horrified and after a conversation with Glinda the final number which closes the film is probably the films show stopper and grand finale.
Cynthia does a great Job in the role of Elphaba, and the performances of her and Arianas characters and voices blend well together. She shines particularly well in one of her stand out moments in the famous ‘Defying Gravity’ number which is one of my favourite parts of the film.
The film is visually stunning and the benefit of creating Wicked on film is that the sets can be brought to life in a way in which as great as the sets and scenery in the musical are, you can’t replicate in the theatre. The visuals in the film are very colourful and pretty and of course having a walking, talking, realistic looking goat as the character Dr Dillomond added a nice touch to the film and the bits with him on film in that form in the scenes he was in I really enjoyed and I found endearing. He also has a little moment with Elphaba in which he appreciates her support and kindness and reaches out his hoof to touch her hand which I thought was sweet and touching.
The film covers themes such as love, friendship, power and corruption and the film has musical numbers throughout the film which are done really well and brought to life with choreography, performances and the stunning sets and scenery.
As I stated before, Cynthia and Ariana are very good in their roles, and I was particularly impressed with how they acted and sung after hearing what was a little bit of negativity about the film when the first trailer came out.
Overall I thought the film was fun, fresh, colourful and was a great version of the musical. The film was a little long and it was only the first of 2 parts which is rumoured to be released next year. And I can honestly say, I’m looking forward to it.
