Movie Review: Wicked: Part I

Carrying on the tradition of musicals being adapted to film, the latest such offering – the long-awaited first part of the adaptation of the Broadway hit Wicked – proves to be a (pardon the pun) wickedly entertaining film that does its source material justice and then some.

Telling the backstory of the witches of Oz, Wicked, follows Elphaba (Cynthis Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) as the pair meet as students at the magic school Shiz University and forge an awkward friendship that blossoms into something far more profound. Following a heralded meeting with the Wizard of Oz, the paths of the two women diverge drastically as they both assume their destined roles in the history of Oz.

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the film is how striking and entertaining the dynamic between the two main actresses proves to be. Not only do Erivo and Grande hold their own as each character against both one another – as well as the weight of history – but the relationship between the two comes across as both earnest and tragic simultaneously. One strives to be popular and loved by all and the other driven by the desire to be true to herself – though neither may play out as one might initially expect.

Director Jon M. Chu does a fine job a giving the film an epic grandeur that sweeps from set piece to set piece, without overpowering the tale of two friends along the way. Similarly, the screenplay penned by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox from the musical written by Holzman, based on Gregory Maguire’s novel, moves along at an entertaining pace despite the film’s nearly three hour running time (a stunner given that this is only part one of the story).

As Glinda and Elphaba, both Grande and Erivo excel in their respective roles. They play extremely well off of and with each other and the relationship between the two comes across as an honest and loving one. Supporting characters, such as Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard (if the Wizard of Oz can be considered a supporting character) and Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible, all get chances to steal the spotlight during their given turns and no one disappoints. Even characters like Bowen Yang’s Pfannee add depth and atmosphere to the overall breadth of the film. In short, it sports an abundance of riches.

Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked: Part I.” Photo by Universal Pictures – © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

The film proves to be a visual feast thanks to cinematographer Alice Brooks’ outstanding work capturing the stunning production design of Nathan Crowley. With a running time of nearly three hours, perhaps editor Myron I. Kerstein could have done a little more trimming, but it is difficult to imagine exactly what could have been excised without affecting the overall film itself.

With Wicked: Part I, director Jon M. Chu has managed to create an adaptation of a beloved Broadway play the may perhaps outshine its source material in several ways. It is possible that the best example of this level of success is in how complete the film feels despite only being the first chapter of the story.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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