‘Wicked: For Good’ review: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return for a sensational conclusion

Pour one in for the doubters. When Universal announced Director John M. Chu This hit broadway musical will break down Wicked Two films in, there was a lot of complaining that it was a cash-grab decision that wouldn’t be justified in the storytelling.

Sure, of 2024 Wicked There was a spectacular climax, ending with Elphaba’s escape from the Emerald City and the show’s greatest song, “defying Gravity.” But how do you make Act 2, a wobbly creation full of new characters and shocking revelations, into your movie? Chu shows us how Wicked: For good.

The screenplay, written by the Broadway show’s bookwriter Winnie Holzman and screenwriter Dana Fox, dramatically builds on hidden elements in the theatrical production’s bustling second half. The film features dynamic action sequences, heavy flashbacks, and two new songs, one for Academy Award nominee Cynthia Erivo and the other for Academy Award nominee Ariana Grande-Butera (as she is credited). Now, some of this definitely serves as filler. But most of it solidifies Chu’s cinematic vision of this reimagined Oz.

Once again Erivo and Grande’s double act sets an extremely high bar that will thrill movie audiences and inspire generations of theater kids to defy their own gravity.

Wicked: for good Portrays a dystopia – but with bright colors.

First critic of Chu Wicked ,I am included) poked fun at the Emerald City’s light colors and lots of poppies. for many Wicked: for goodHe’s certainly been color corrected – or color corrected – to better relish in the vibrant colors of Nathan Crowley’s meticulous production design and Paul Tazewell’s dazzling costumes of Oz. Elphaba’s black robes against the emerald of the Wizard’s Realm and the princess pink of Glinda’s dress create a sharp contrast in scene and tone. As the film grows emotionally deeper for its heroines, Chu again slips into the gray, seeming to shroud the film in a bleak veil that frustratingly obscures the focus and faces of its stars. However, there are still many opportunities for them to move forward.

Wicked: for good The construction of the Yellow Brick Road finds a not-so-amazing wizard (Jeff Goldblum) enslaving, nearly voiceless animals to use as beasts of burden, while sneering human guards flog the creatures without mercy. Naturally, Elphaba (Erivo) pulls a superhero trick as she descends to free her fellow Ozians and scare off the violent guards, inevitably joining the Wizard’s smear campaign that projects her as Oz’s Public Enemy #1.

Back in the glittering glory of the Emerald City, Glinda (Grande-Butera) is a famous public figure who has been gifted her famous mechanized bubble, courtesy of a fearsome Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). Such whimsical transportation would help complete the disguise that Glinda the Good (as she is branded) possesses incredible magic. And to complete the picture, the Wizard and the Morrible have plotted a marriage between their poster girl and their debonair Captain of the Guard Fearow (Jonathan Bailey).

As Elphaba fights alone to free the animals and end the wizard’s reign of lies, she suffers the loss of her best friend, her lover, and her relationship with her sister Nessa (Marisa Bode). In for good, She reconnects with each, sparking sparks and magic, resulting in twists that are all too familiar to fans. the Wizard of Oz.

Mashable Top Stories

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera are fabulous Wicked: For good.

With the first film, Erivo was unconvincing as an insecure simpleton. Her strong physicality and loud voices are more suitable for her WickedThe second part, where Elphaba metaphorically finds her voice. Here, Erivo infuses a radiant intensity into every step, every song, and every glare.

Grande-Butera is his pitch-perfect foil. While Elphaba’s attitude reflects the darkness that has engulfed Oz, Glinda’s bubble-headedness reflects the citizens’ indifferent and oblivious attitude toward their wizard dictator. In terms of balancing comedy and drama, Erivo and Grande-Butera make a great team. Erivo brews and belts, while also Grande-Butera bubbles and… belts.

Even with the serious turns this sequel takes, Grande-Butera finds character moments for lightness and comedy. “Tap to Bubble” teased a bit Trailers Undeniable fun. But even as Glinda uncovers heavy truths, Grande-Butera finds notes of “dumb blonde” bounce that are enriching without distracting.

When these two friends and foes face off in physical combat, there is an emotional charge but a comedic tone, as they fight not like powerful witches, but like frenzied enemies ready to pull each other’s hair out. (Think when Colin Firth and Hugh Grant fight bridget jones diary,

It almost goes without saying that Erivo and Grande-Butera both crush the vocals, and not just the ones on the go. Wicked number, but also for the Elphaba song “No Place Like Home” and Glinda’s “The Girl in the Bubble”. However, none of the songs are as strong as the Broadway soundtrack.

Wicked: for good Gets surprisingly tough in the darkest turns.

Fans of Gregory Maguire’s novel or the long-running Broadway musical born from it will not be surprised by the revealed origins of Dorothy and her Yellow Brick Road-trekking friends. However, they can still marvel at the costume and makeup changes that bring these iconic figures to life anew. (Save for the Cowardly Lion, voiced by a dramatically trembling Colman Domingo, who is a drunken CGI gesture.)

Ethan Slater brings intense wickedness to the cursed munchkin Bok, while his Nessa finds the wicked witch within her. As for Bailey, he is every bit the plucky hero when the script demands it. But it’s a love scene with Erivo that will enthrall fans — and possibly trigger an unspoken crush. (That strapping guy in Chu is showing his chest hair and has his shirt sleeves rolled up, which suggests the director understands female desire better than most of his peers.) Even after a fatal transformation, Fierro is a charmer. Simply put, Bailey is living up to his recently acquired Sexiest Man Alive title – even when his vocal range seems strained by the demands of the couple opposite Erivo.

Elsewhere, Yoh is satisfyingly growling as Viciously Horrible. Goldblum is charming as the magician, but decidedly prefers the role of a one-note, “corn-fed” villain to dedicated complacency even in the face of his darkest secrets. Fans of the comedic treasure trove starring Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James will be disappointed, as their Fanny and Shenshen only appear in a brief sequence. (They do get a laugh though!) Overall, the outfit is as good as gold.

Where? Wicked: for good Fumbles insists on looking back. The new song numbers give audiences a deeper insight into Elphaba and Glinda’s internal struggles. However, flashbacks are an indulgence. One depicts a small army of beautifully dressed children, giving an extremely simple explanation of why Glinda lies to please people – as if it wasn’t obvious by this point in the story. The second flashback is more useful because the show is divided into two parts, so it’s helpful in connecting potentially lost threads. But this sequence also involves CGI de-aging that is distractingly bad. These moments highlight how Chu is struggling to pace his final chapter Wicked Adaptation. But no one ruins the fun, only the flow.

Ultimately, Wicked: for good It will definitely enthrall fans of Broadway shows, the first film, and anyone who loves great film musicals. Despite its flaws, it’s still good.

Wicked: for good Will be released in theaters on November 21.