The following story contains spoilers for the musical film Wicked.
The Wicked effect is undeniable.
For months on end, everywhere I looked, I’d see a brand partnership or new product advertising the film adaptation of the famed Broadway musical. From Glinda’s Pink Potion at Starbucks (ironically, my current favorite drink) to pink and green lights highlighting the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France at night, every advertisement showcased the iconic slogan of the film/musical/book: “Pink goes well with green.”
After a while, it got annoying. Usually, when I see multiple advertisements for a piece of media, it compels me not to purchase whatever the ad describes. However, that all changed for me when I watched the trailer for the film in May. Although I had no previous knowledge of the plot, I was intrigued by the set design, music, and most importantly, the two leading ladies—Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera.
Wicked was originally written as a novel prequel by Gregory Maguire to the classic 1939 The Wizard of Oz film and the original Oz novels by L. Frank Baum. When the story had its Broadway debut on Oct. 30, 2003, the musical took the world by storm. Due to critical acclaim and worldwide influence, it was announced to be retold in Hollywood in 2012. Unfortunately, because of production nightmares, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Strike in 2023, the film wasn’t released until a few weeks ago.
It tells the origin story of Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), who is the Wicked Witch of the West in the Oz universe. She was born with green skin and has been ostracized her whole life. On the other hand, Glinda Upland (Ariana Grande-Butera) is the Good Witch of the North. She was born privileged, has an extreme affinity for the color pink, and is used to getting everything her heart desires. The two meet at Shiz University, where they both are attending to learn sorcery. However, Elphaba was born with magical powers, ones that she’s yet to learn to control. Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) takes her under her wing and forces her to room with Glinda. As time passes, they become unlikely friends. Additionally, they get caught in a love triangle with Prince Fiyero Tigelaar (Jonathan Bailey) when he transfers to Shiz. Not long after, when Elphaba is invited to the Emerald City to meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), both her and Glinda’s lives change forever.
It’s been about a week since I watched Wicked in theaters, and there’s truly nothing else to say aside from the fact that I am utterly bewitched by the musical film. All of the songs have been running haywire through my head for days, but I’m not complaining.
The wonder of the film is in part thanks to its director, Jon M. Chu. Renowned for his work as director of the blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians and musical In the Heights, Chu brought a kind of vivacity and life to the movie that no other director could. Musical films have been declining in abundance and quality in Hollywood, but with a $145 million budget and the dynamic duo of Erivo and Grande, Chu has revived the musical film genre, bringing back hope for more extravagant Broadway adaptations. Only further proving Wicked’s popularity, as of Nov. 30, it’s become the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation of all time at the domestic box office.
Of course, Wicked is popular for many reasons. As Glinda so famously sings in her ballad while trying to makeover Elphaba: “It’s all about popular.” I would say the primary reason for this is because of the film’s star-studded cast.
Erivo is known for her jaw-dropping vocals that can travel octaves higher than anyone would’ve thought possible. Since her Broadway debut in The Color Purple in 2015 as Celie Harris, audiences have raved about her incredible range and acting skills, and for good reason. To solidify my claim, I’d suggest watching Erivo’s performance of “I’m Here” from the Broadway musical. It’s simply stunning. For her aforementioned performance, Erivo won a Grammy Award, a Tony Award, and an Emmy Award, making her one Oscar Award away from an EGOT, the heralded crown of American entertainment awards.
It’s easy to see how Erivo was selected for the first lead role. Throughout the extensive runtime of two hours and 40 minutes, I was stunned by her evident emotion and how easily she became Elphaba. When her green skin alone could not fully convey the feelings she tried to repress around others, she let her eyes speak a language of their own. She conveyed hurt that can be seen through the depths of one’s soul in only a glance. Hand in hand, Erivo’s voice held an immense amount of power whenever she sang or spoke. With unique vocal inflections and incredible belts, Erivo proved to be the perfect actress to personify Elphaba on the big screen.
On an equally impressive note, Grande was an outstanding Glinda. Over the years, Grande has made it no secret that Glinda is her dream role. After seeing the original Broadway cast of Wicked in 2003 at ten years old, she fell in love with the beloved story. Her love for Glinda shone through wonderfully in the film. Drawing influence from Kristin Chenoweth’s original portrayal of Glinda, Grande danced, shrieked, and laughed her way through the musical as the perfectly pink, effervescent character she was always meant to be. Equal to her superior vocals—with falsetto notes that could most likely be interpreted as echolocation for bats and dolphins—Grande also had a boundless talent for humor, from dramatic hair flips to exquisite comedic timing. I must admit, I attempted the iconic hair flip walking out of the theatre, and it’s much harder than Grande makes it seem.
As for supporting characters, I have to mention the dashing Jonathan Bailey. Bailey shines in every way a love interest in a musical should: with chemistry palpable enough to detect through the screen and an innate talent for mischief. He steals the show when performing “Dancing Through Life,” a ten-minute dancing and singing extravaganza with complex choreography and a savvy main character.
Each character shines uniquely, and all wouldn’t be complete without the brilliant soundtrack. The songs are the same as the stage musical, written and composed by Stephen Schwartz. Even so, there’s a distinct change in each of the tracks, besides the obvious change of singers. The songs are somewhat reimagined to bring the story of Wicked to further relevance and make a greater impact on the audience.
Currently, I have “What Is This Feeling?” playing on repeat in my head, which depicts Elphaba and Glinda’s initial loathing for each other, complete with catchy lyrics and a strong chorus background. “Dancing Through Life” is another one of my favorites. It’s an ode to the carefree and vivacious Fiyero, as he convinces the students of Shiz to follow after his lead to the Ozdust Ballroom, where they intend to dance the night away.
However, my utmost favorite track on the Wicked soundtrack is, as expected, “Defying Gravity.” The final scene in Wicked: Part One, “Defying Gravity” is the most powerful moment of the film, where Elphaba fulfills her destiny to become the Wicked Witch of the West. Plot aside, it’s a ballad of paving your path and choosing to do what is right, and not what others believe you should adhere to. Not to mention Erivo’s glorious summit, where she does high-flying stunts while singing at the top of her lungs. It’s uplifting and inspiring and leaves the audience wonderstruck as the final say of the film.
Additionally, the set and costume design was stunning. Reminiscent of the incredible feat Barbie undertook with creating Barbieland, lead set designer Nathan Crowley created the Emerald City, Shiz University, and Munchkinland. Each set felt immersive and real, almost as if I could touch it through the screen. Chu wanted the audience to feel they were in Oz with Elphaba and Glinda, and he succeeded. From planting nine million tulips for Munchkinland to constructing a 50-ton magical train to take Elphaba to the Emerald City, Wicked went all out.
The same could be said for the whimsical costumes. Paul Tazewell, a renowned costume designer, coordinated the outfits to match the soul and spirit of each character, as well as incorporating real-life elements into each one. For example, Elphaba’s famed Ozdust Ballroom dress was partially inspired by fungi and tree bark textures to reflect her love for nature. Ferns travel up the side of the waisted bodice, adding some beautiful embroidery and complexity to the dress. For Glinda’s centerpiece gown, appearing at the beginning of the film, Tazewell integrated the ideas of bubbles and spirals, since her first appearance in The Wizard of Oz was by popping a floating, iridescent pink bubble. Her style was also inspired by the classic Dior 1950s look of chicness and snazziness.
On the exterior, Wicked seems to be a tale of two witches finding their way in a magical world of their own. Although this is true, underneath the surface, the musical explores deep societal issues that are still relevant today. The main problems investigated are manipulating public opinion using propaganda, discrimination, and the difficulty of defining good and evil.
Towards the end of the film, Madame Morrible and the Wizard paint Elphaba as the villain to the public, partly because of her green complexion and her defiance in the face of adversity. In truth, Elphaba discovers the wizard’s lies and seeks to create a better world, not one that is corrupt. This can reflect the prejudices shoved against people of color today and how the media can distort the perspective of the masses.
However, the story of Wicked doesn’t end there. Wicked: Part Two will be released on Nov. 21, 2025, telling what becomes of Elphaba and Glinda as the story moves toward the inevitable events of The Wizard of Oz.
The beloved story of Wicked is one that has maintained longevity and broken records globally. Although I am a recent fan of the narrative, it’s one that I recognize as being brought faithfully to the big screen in a glorious way. From intricate dance choreography to beautifully beaded costumes and an expectation-defying cast, Wicked has proved to be a triumph for the ages.
