Something Wickedly Wicked This Way Comes | Wicked Part 1: Review
One of the most anticipated films of 2024 made its way to the box office this past November and is taking the award season nominations by storm, the Oscar’s approaching, calls for an in detail review of Wicked Part 1, lead and directed by Jon M. Chu.
In my opinion, the best films come with a complete transportation for the audience, walking in the Theater in one reality and walking out feeling like you were just transported to a new one. A tall task to ask of one of the biggest pop stars of the past decade, Ariana Grande. How will it look? Will we be able to tell it’s THE Ariana Grande? Answer 1, spectacular and answer 2, NO. An all time performance from an all time talent. Exceeding any of my expectations, any thought that this is Ariana Grande on my screen vanished the second that bubble floated into the Upper Uperlands of Gillikin County. Grande gave Glinda a fresh and modern sparkle while still paying homage to Glinda’s roots in Kristen Chenoweth.
Walking into Wicked, I was unfamiliar with Cynthia Erivo; walking out I wish’d i’d known who she was my whole life. The seamless combination of Cynthia’s breathtaking vocals and pure performance painted the story and character of Elphaba so beautifully. The raw reality and vulnerability in her story made so many feel seen, it goes beyond just “being green”. Both Grande and Erivo’s voices melt together like butter, as shown in “Defying Gravity”, one of the most groundbreakingly stunning songs and vocal blends I have heard in a long time. It is special to have had so many people play Glinda and Elphaba over the past decade, yet now the eminent legacy of Wicked is rightfully in the hands of Ariana and Cynthia, so incredibly deserved.
I can’t complete this without giving the supporting cast their flowers. The whole ensemble was put together so perfectly. From Jonathan Bailey to Michelle Yeoh, everyone just blended so effortlessly. There are so many people that go into making a movie, many who never get the spotlight in the media like set directors, producers, costume department, makeup team, camera operators: all of them deserve the light as well, especially when it’s a film as magically made as “Wicked”.
See you all in November 2025, for “Wicked: For Good” :)
