Movie review: ‘Wicked: Part One’ is one of the greatest stage-to-screen adaptations of all time
“Wicked: Part One” manages to live up to 20+ years of hype and might be one of the greatest stage-to-screen adaptations ever. The sets, the performances, the direction, everything does an insane justice to the 2003 Broadway spectacle.
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Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Glinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.
Universal
When it comes to the 2003 Broadway version of “Wicked,” I always find myself to be the one to say it’s “over-hyped.” I had seen the show and liked it fine, and I loved most of the music, but I never truly connected with anything else. While I never fell in love with “Wicked,” I knew millions of others had. So, when Universal announced it was finally going forward with a movie version of the beloved musical, I was skeptical. I felt that the studio had set themselves up with an impossible task: to please the fans.
Now, having seen the movie, as a skeptic, having seen the show, and growing up with music, I can confidently say director Jon M. Chu and Universal have blown this impossible task out of the water and have created a perfect adaptation.
From the jump, the creators behind “Wicked: Part One” let it be known that they are not messing around. For those of you unfamiliar with “Wicked,” the story opens in Munchkinland, and like I said, immediately you realize how much effort was put into making the land of Oz fully realized. Every set piece in this movie is gorgeous. If I were to compare how much of the film is practical, I would compare “Wicked: Part One,” to the “Harry Potter” franchise. Not one detail feels looked over. It’s an incredible achievement of Jon M. Chu and team.
Just about everything in “Wicked: Part One” is done so well. One of the most daunting things when making an adaptation of one of the most popular Broadway musicals of all time is the casting — especially when everyone has an opinion on which Elphaba and Glinda are the best. To no surprise, Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), and Ariana Grande (Glinda) “defy gravity.” Not only do they do justice to those who embodied the roles before them, but they also make the roles their own. After some recent performances, I am convinced, Cynthia Erivo is one of the best actresses working today, and her performance in “Wicked: Part One” is another notch in that belt. And Ariana continues to prove as if we didn’t already know, that she is capital “F” Funny. They could not have cast these roles better.
As soon as the credits rolled, I was ready for them to start “Wicked: Part Two” which is wild considering I think the second act of the “Wicked” stage show drags a bit, and the “Wicked: Part One” movie is a whopping 160 minutes.
“Wicked: Part One” is a huge achievement for Universal. I can’t wait to see it again.
SCORE: 4.5/5
“Wicked: Part One” is rated PG and is in theaters Nov. 22, 2024! There is no post-credit scene.
‘Wicked’ in the parks
If you’re looking for more from the world of “Wicked,” Universal Orlando now has Wicked: The Experience, an immersive shop with merchandise, photo ops, replica costumes, and sometimes a surprise appearance from Elphaba and Glinda themselves.
The experience is now open; take a look in our video tour:
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