“Wicked: For Good” Review
Written by: Tanner Kaminsky
Ever since last November, I – along with the rest of the globe – have been impatiently waiting for the second installment of Wicked, an on-screen adaptation of the Broadway sensation. The story itself, for the few who are living under a rock, is adapted from The Wizard of Oz, a 1939 classic, starring Judy Garland and Margaret Hamilton, later written into a Broadway Musical about the pre-existing relationship between Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (the Good Witch) – featuring Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.
I had the rare opportunity to see Wicked’s sequel, entitled Wicked: For Good, which begins promptly after the first film concludes with “Defying Gravity”; and, if I were to suffice, both films are revolutionary and life-altering, and the sequel, especially, rendered me – quite literally – inconsolable. The sequel itself is much darker than the first film, and if you’ve seen the production, you would understand the reason behind this. I, myself, had forgotten many of the details from when I viewed the show, and I was in for quite a treat in the audience; I sat in my seat with my Icee and my Cynthia Erivo vintage tee, weeping, craving to re-live the moment when I first sat down in the recliner – if you even care. I urge you to bring tissues and your dignity to the theater, so that you can avoid walking out of the theater disheveled and mascara-caked.
I would also like to add that Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey’s performances, respectively, were groundbreaking. They collectively hauled the movie to its fullest potential, coming across as visceral and, at times, heart-wrenching, with their dynamics and pitches all faultless and congruous. I kept thinking about the awards season while watching, and needless to say, I’m very excited for Erivo’s EGOT.
If you are someone who is intimidated by long runtimes, you have nothing to worry about. This film practically flies by, and I never felt the two hours and seventeen minutes pass – even after the movie ended.
In short, the movie was ineffably powerful, and I guarantee that you will find something you like about it, even if you aren’t particularly fond of musicals. So, please do yourself a favor and see Wicked: For Good in all theaters. You won’t be disappointed – you’ll be literally stunned.
