Review by J1 Reporter Josie Piernicky

“Wicked,” a movie based on the popular Broadway musical and the book by Gregory Maguire, is a highly anticipated adaptation of the story behind the witches of Oz. The first part of the movie was released on Nov. 21, and it was well worth the watch. I have never seen “Wicked” before and I thought that the concept was so interesting and the actresses did an amazing job with portraying the emotion of the story.

For anyone who’s not familiar with the story, “Wicked” is about the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda before Dorothy shows up in Oz. It dives deep into their complicated pasts, showing how Elphaba, who is born with green skin, ends up being misunderstood and labeled as “wicked,” while Glinda, who seems like the typical popular girl, becomes the hero of Oz. The movie explored themes of prejudice, friendship, and how society shapes our identities.

The movie was ethereal. The visuals in Oz are absolutely gorgeous, with the costumes and sets looking just as magical as I imagined them. The special effects were truly amazing, especially when it comes to Elphaba’s big moment during “Defying Gravity.” The animals were also extremely captivating to watch. It blows my mind that CGI can depict an animal and make it look so realistic.

The cast is another thing I’m excited about. Elphaba is played by Cynthia Erivo, who has an amazing voice and is known for her powerful performances, while Glinda is played by Ariana Grande. At first, I was a little unsure about Ariana in this role, but after hearing her sing and watching her acting performance, I think fit the role perfectly. The chemistry between these two is just captivating to watch. You can see and tell through the screen how well they get along and mesh with each other.

In terms of the story, it’s definitely a bit of a reimagining compared to the musical, but I’m hoping it will still capture the emotional depth and the humor that made “Wicked” such a hit. The Broadway version is known for its fun songs, like “Popular” and “Defying Gravity,” and I’m sure the movie will bring those moments to life in a big way. But it also tackles heavier themes like the nature of good and evil, and it was interesting to see how they balanced the lighthearted moments with the more serious ones.

As for how I feel about it, it was beautifully produced, wonderfully cast, and it made me feel something. I have never seen “Wicked” and knew nothing going into the movie. I didn’t know what to expect and was blown away. The emotion that Ariana and Cynthia were able to portray was really touching and it was well worth the money I spent to go see it. The vocals are stunning and I could listen to them all day long. 

Overall, “Wicked” was a beautiful production. The story was clear and captivating. It made me laugh, cry, smile and sadden. The moments that the actors portrayed across the screen are emotionally deep and touching. They did an amazing job casting the roles, but also bringing the musical and book to life.