Wicked: For Good

Review by Sam

⭐⭐⭐⭐

After defying gravity at the box office last year, Jon M Chu’s adaptation of Wicked makes its curtain call in this year’s most highly anticipated sequel.

For those that did not graduate from Shiz University, allow me to recap... Wicked: For Good is the big screen adaptation of Act 2 from the beloved musical. Unlike the first film, it focuses less on establishing characters, as it continues the story by intersecting with the narrative of The Wizard of Oz from the perspective of Glinda and Elphaba.

The second act has always been more serious than the first, and the film is no different. Beginning directly after last year’s cliffhanger, the sequel instantly feels tonally darker to the whimsical and joyful nature of the first film. This is impressive considering both films were shot back-to-back yet maintain their clear tonal differences to still feel separate. The sequel continues to impress with set-pieces and costumes that dazzle, demonstrating the continued love that has been poured into every creative avenue.

Whilst most well-known songs were featured in the first film, the sequel still contains enough to leave audiences rejoycifying. Stand out numbers such as “No Good Deed” and “For Good” showcase the tour-de-force of both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s performances. Unlike its predecessor, the sequel also contains two original songs, the highlight of which is Grande’s performance of “The Girl in the Bubble” which is sure to be a contender at next year’s Oscars. Last year, Erivo arguably stole the film with her career defining performance as Elphaba, however due to the nature of the material, the sequel focuses the attention towards Glinda, as Grande delivers a truly mesmerising lead performance.

The overall adaptation of Wicked has been a lightening in a bottle moment for the cinematic and theatrical landscape, and with Chu at its helm has been captured in the greatest way imaginable. He has undertaken the mammoth that is adapting this beloved musical to the big screen and has succeeded in making something that the Wizard himself would call “Wonderful”.