Last night, I stepped back into the dazzling land of Oz for Wicked: For Good, the second chapter that everyone waited a whole year to see. Ariana Grande returns as the bubbly Glinda, Cynthia Erivo as the green-skinned Elphaba, and Jonathan Bailey as the handsome Fiyero, alongside Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, and Marissa Bode. Well, the theatre was packed and my 3D glasses were on, and I sat down with sky-high expectations. So, what’s the verdict? Read on to know!
Plot
This is a follow-up to the hit film where Elphaba puts on her black hat and has accepted her name as the Wicked Witch. She hides in the west and uses her magic to save the talking Animals who are slowly being silenced. At the same time, Glinda lives like a princess in the Emerald City, waving to huge crowds and wearing the prettiest gowns. As the Wizard spreads terrifying propaganda about Elphaba and sends guards to hunt her, friendships break, truths come out, and love triangles complicate the situation. In this second chapter, we witness the Wicked Witch’s desperate battles and more.
Performances
Cynthia Erivo steals every scene she appears in. She expresses her quiet anger and her look breaks your heart. Her eyes speak louder than anything and when she speaks up and delivers her magnetic vocals, the whole room feels powerful.
Well, all of us were waiting for Ariana Grande to get her much-awaited solo moment and she does in this part. She is funny and charming and pulls off all kinds of emotions amazingly.
Jonathan Bailey deserves every award for playing the character of Fiyero, who yearns so well. Every time he appears, I can’t help but let out a scream because he’s that good.
Jeff Goldblum does a good job portraying the silly yet creepy character while Ethan Slater and Marissa Bode bring their own charm and strengths. Sadly, Michelle Yeoh barely gets anything to do. It felt like a waste of a great actress.
Verdict: Ariana Grande And Cynthia Erivo’s Epic Musical Ends On A Surprisingly Weak Note
The real problem lies in the story itself. The first half moves slowly, with long scenes where so many things happen but doesn’t quite leave an impact. Many songs come and go without sticking in your head and when the second half comes in, it tries to squeeze everything.
Also, I expected powerful and jaw-dropping moments of Elphaba fighting against the odds but it felt flat. The film drags in too many places and also the humour in this part doesn’t work. It’s only Glinda’s one-liners that make you laugh. However, the duo’s vocals are brilliant. When they sing together, even though the song doesn’t stick with you, their high notes do.
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But, kudos to the people who designed the set and costumes and cinematographers. I liked the way the film was shot, the dazzling costumes, the land of OZ and the 3D effect, which added more thrill to it. In the end, this second part feels weaker than the first film. The sets, costumes, and performances try hard, but the story and pace hold it back.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked For Good will be released in theatres on November 21.
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