Wicked Review

Wicked

Release Date: 3rd November 2024 - Australia (Sydney, premiere)

Production Companies

Universal Pictures (presents)

Marc Platt Productions

SKY Studios

Dentsu (presented in association with)

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Fantasy/Musical

Rating: PG

Runtime: 160 minutes

Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $531,335,495 (Worldwide - figure subject to change)

Plot Summary

Misunderstood but

rebellious Elphaba,

a girl born with green

skin, and Glinda, an

aristocratic girl born

to be popular, become

unlikely friends in the

magical land of Oz.

After meeting the

Wizard of Oz, their

friendship reaches a

breaking point as they

begin to fulfil their

destinies as Glinda the

Good and the Wicked

Witch of the West.

Cast

Cynthia Erivo - Elphaba

Ariana Grande - Galinda/

Glinda

Jeff Goldblum - The Wonderful

Wizard of Oz

Michelle Yeoh - Madame Morrible

Jonathan Bailey - Fiyero

Ethan Slater - Boq

Marissa Bode - Nessarose

Peter Dinklage - Dr. Dillamond (Voice)

Andy Nyman - Governor

Thropp

Courtney Mae-Briggs - Mrs

Thropp

Aaron Teoh Guan Ti - Avaric

Bowen Yang - Pfannee

Bronwyn James - ShenShen

Shaun Prendergast - Shiz President

Keala Settle - Mrs Coddle

Sharon D. Clarke - Dulcibear (Voice)

Jenna Boyd - Wolf Doctor (Voice)

Lexi Lancaster - Munchkinland Kid

Arlo Turner - Munchkinland Kid

Joey Unitt - Munchkinland Kid

Bea Ward - Munchkinland Kid

Dereke Oladele - Munchkinland Kid

Sienna-Rose Amer -

Munchkinland Kid

Tarik Frimpong -

Munchkinland Crier

James Dryden - No One

Mourns Munchkin

Malinda Parris - No One

Cries Munchkin

Noah Prempeh - The Good

Man Munchkin

Vicki Noon - Winkie Mother

Debbie Kurup - Winkie Mother

Jasmine McIvor - Winkie Mother

Hattie Ryan - Curious Munchkin

Kirsty Anne Shaw - Skeptical Munchkin

Karis Musongele - Young Elphaba

Cesily Collette Taylor - Young Nessarose

Jarlan Bogolubov - Munchkin

Bullie

Isaac Bishop - Munchkin Bullie

Adam James - Galinda's Popsicle

Alice Fearn - Galinda's Momsie

Clive Kneller - Emerald City Train Conductor

Michael McCorry Rose - 

Wiz-O-Mania Narrator

Idina Menzel - Wiz-O-Mania

Super Star (Cameo)

Kristin Chenoweth -

Wiz-O-Mania Super Star (Cameo)

Robin Berry - Palace Guard

Bobby Windebank - Shiz Security

Cherida Strallen - Shiz Librarian

Tom Kitely - Snow Leopard (Voice)

Elizabeth Dulau - Piebald Deer (Voice)

Kim Durham - Tamarin/Owl (Voice)

Jennifer Woodward - Birds (Voice)

Stephen Stanton - Fiyero's Horse (Voice)

Stephen Schwartz - Emerald

City Guard (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Jon M. Chu

Based on the Musical

Book/Screenplay/Executive

Producer - Winnie Holzman

From the Novel - Gregory

Maguire

Based on Characters -

Frank Baum (Uncredited)

Executive Producers -

Dana Fox and Jared

LeBoff

Executive Producer/Unit

Production Manager - David Nicksay

Executive Producer/Music & Lyrics - Stephen Schwartz

Producer - David Stone

Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager - Joan Schneider

Production Designer - Nathan Crowley

Supervising Art Director - Ben Collins

Senior Art Directors - Rod McLean and Gavin Fitch

Art Directors - Roxana Alexandru,

Jordana Finkel Sarah Ginn, Rhys Ifan,

Hugh McClelland, Chris Peters,

Quinn Robinson and Luke Sanders

Set Decorator - Lee Sandales

Set Decoration Art Directors - Laura Ng

and Jo Ridler

Construction Consultant - Paul J. Hayes

Property Master - Jamie Wilkinson

Costume Designer - Paul Tazewell

Hair and Makeup Designer - Frances Hannon

Prosthetics Makeup Designer - Mark Coulier

Director of Photography - Alice Brooks

First Assistant Director - Jack Ravenscroft

Second Unit Director/Director of

Photography - Sam Renton

Choreographer - Christopher Scott

Stunt Coordinator - Jo McLaren

Special Effects Supervisor - Paul Corbould

Senior Floor Supervisor - Chris Corbould

Visual Effects Supervisors - Pablo Helman

and Jonathan Fawkner

Visual Effects Supervisors: ILM - Anthony Smith

and Robert Weaver

Visual Effects Supervisor: Foy - Colin Strause

Visual Effects Producer - Kevin Elam

Visual Effects Producers: Foy - Greg Strause

and Marguax Mackay

Visual Effects Art Director - Gordon Champ

Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Chris Voy

Animation Supervisors - David Shirl

and Dale Newton

CG Supervisors: ILM - Karin Cooper,

Michael Duong and Nick Pitt-Owen

Editor - Myron Kerstein

Supervising Sound Editor and Sound Design/

Re-Recording Mixer - John Marquis

Supervising Sound Editor and Sound Design -

Nancy Nugent Title

Sound Designers - Malte Bieler and

Tim Walston

Additional Sound Designers - Erick Ocampo

and Brandon Jones

Production Sound Mixer - Simon Hayes

Re-Recording Mixer - Andy Nelson

Music - John Powell

Executive Music Producer - Stephen Oremus

Music Producer - Greg Wells

Music Supervisor - Maggie Rodford

Review

I've heard of WICKED but have never seen the original musical. It's because I only go to live musicals sometimes. I didn't read Gregory Maguire's book either because I didn't know until then that it existed. There's something wicked about this movie that the title primarily suggests otherwise. Oz fans have long waited for this film adaptation since its official announcement in 2012. However, splitting this two-hour musical into two parts has left them sceptical. It's similar to how they split DUNE into two movies. I've watched a few of its trailers. One was a LEGO version, and I needed clarification that this was the actual film. Fortunately, I was relieved that it wasn't, but I had second thoughts about the movie until a friend convinced me to see it with him. Nevertheless, I decided to go ahead with it.

Incidentally, this film does it better than the other attempts to revive the land of Oz (minus Oz the Great and Powerful). It perfectly honours the original 1939 The Wizard of Oz film and the 2003 musical while also having its identity. Having worked on Step Up 2: The Streets and In the Heights, director Jon M. Chu knows what it takes to fill the screen with awe-inspiring choreography and the momentum needed to shift between intimate moments in each number. Taking full advantage of the story's fantasy elements beyond what the stage musical could do, the film is a pure fantasy experience, transforming it from a stage musical to a Hollywood blockbuster.

While there have been some recent symbolic interpretations of Baum's original book, the themes of fascism and racism in WICKED are deliberate and explicit. At 160 minutes, WICKED is almost too long, especially considering this is the first part, but it isn't tedious. It only covers the first half of the stage musical but introduces copious amounts of material to expand on the story. There are many references to the classic film for Oz fans and a few cameos that feel less like fan service and more like a logical expansion.

Cynthia Erivo is the heart and soul of the movie, giving a magnificent, heart-wrenching performance as Elphaba. Ariana Grande is more impressive in her acting than her singing as Glinda. However, the magical chemistry that those two leads have together is unlimited. Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, and Jeff Goldblum are excellent in their supporting roles, particularly the latter as the mysterious Wizard. Peter Dinklage is the perfect choice for the role of the wailing Dr Dillamond, adding weight to the film's examination of discrimination and social injustice.

The costumes, set design, and other visual aspects are fascinating as they bring the story to life. The songs are the film's undisputed high point and are very lively and enjoyable to listen to at times. They had this musical theatre flair, which was very much in tune with the movie. The film's standout moment, "Defying Gravity", is a showstopper.

From its dazzling spectacles to its beautiful scenery, costumes, strong cast, and spectacular visuals, WICKED is a spellbinding movie that defies gravity to enchant viewers with an immersive experience. I can't wait for the second part, which will be out next year.

Star rating: (9/10) Excellent Movie

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