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The second installment of Wicked: For Good fails to match the flawless magic of its first part—yet presents an emotional grand finale, which lingers after the curtain drops.
Jon M. Chu returns to direct Wicked: For Good, which stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda in this musical adaptation from Universal Pictures. The story begins one year after Elphaba disappeared into thin air to become the Wicked Witch of the West while Glinda serves as the Wizard’s official public representative.
The film begins immediately after the opening section without any need for character introductions. The story begins with Elphaba fighting in secret while Glinda presents a fake smile to Oz citizens who face animal expulsion and propaganda broadcasts. Elphaba fights to protect the Animals while maintaining her bonds with Nessarose (Marissa Bode) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) who now leads the Gale Force as Captain.
The story of Wicked: For Good explores the aftermath of decisions made in the previous installment. The story presents a somber atmosphere while the tension levels have been raised and every character faces the consequences of their previous actions.
The main character, Elphaba, delivers the emotional core of the movie through her performance. The character reveals her complete exhaustion and anger and her hidden sensitive nature to the audience. The live vocal recordings during production create an authentic performance quality in her songs which match her emotional delivery.
The additional screen time for Glinda in this movie enables Grande to deliver a more impactful performance. The audience observes Glinda’s “good witch” persona deteriorate as she discovers her entire public image consists of fabricated information. The film reaches its most emotional points during her two major ballads which include the powerful, For Good reprise.
The extended runtime of the movie enables Fiyero to develop his character more fully. The movie shows his transition from royal prince to Wizard regime resistor for Elphaba in a more detailed way than the stage production does although it still rushes through his storyline during the last part.
The visual approach of For Good maintains the same extreme level as Part One. The production design creates stunning visuals through Kiamo Ko’s fortress and the distorted Emerald City architecture and the dimly lit candlelit spaces. The director Jon M. Chu maintains practical sets and extensive building elements from the first film to create an authentic Oz environment through his use of the Yellow Brick Road and extensive location filming.
The film contains excessive visual effects which create an overwhelming experience in certain moments. The movie becomes overwhelming within its final scenes when Elphaba faces her enemy and Dorothy enters the story.
The movie contains numerous plotlines which continue throughout its extended two hour plus duration.
The first hour of the movie delivers a strong narrative that focuses on character development and features two outstanding musical numbers. The story becomes harder to follow in its middle part. The story experiences changes tonal shifts when it moves between Oz’s political terror and Wizard of Oz fantasy elements and some supporting characters seem to exist only to fulfill original musical requirements.
The stage show’s fundamental story elements appear in this adaptation but the filmmakers made significant changes to the narrative. The story includes a new song which shows Elphaba’s bond with the animals and her fight against Oz’s dark oppression. The story includes direct appearances from Dorothy and Toto but she remains in the background while her presence is shown. The score carries most of the emotional weight throughout the film even when the plot becomes complicated. The musical score by composer Stephen Schwartz receives new orchestral arrangements from fellow composer John Powell to create a dramatic blend of Broadway theater with large-scale cinematic music.
The two emotional core songs of this story remain Defying Gravity and For Good while For Good achieves its title through its depiction of Elphaba and Glinda’s last duet. The movie achieves its goal these two women transformed by each other through life by their farewell scene in a subdued manner. The movie delivers its message about the two women’s transformation through their departure.
The second installment of Wicked: For Good lacks the fresh direction and concentrated narrative of the initial film. The story collapses under its excessive content while the excessive visual elements will overwhelm certain viewers. The critical reception of this film has been divided because of its different approach from the first installment.
The movie delivers its intended conclusion to this particular Oz narrative through its main performances and powerful musical numbers and emotional Elphaba-Glinda story resolution. The emotional conclusion of their story delivers a satisfying ending that lives up to its title.
The largest available screen should display this Wicked sequel to all fans who enjoyed the initial film and stage musical enthusiasts. The film presents an imperfect yet heartfelt spectacle which combines magical moments with messy sections to create a proper farewell for two legendary witches of modern musical theater.
Grade: 8/10
