REVIEW: ‘Wicked’ is a delight for the holiday season

I’ve been anticipating the first part of the film adaptation of “Wicked” for quite some time. I saw it over the holiday weekend.

Let’s talk about it.

“Wicked Part One,” which came out in theatres Nov. 22, is a film adaptation of the first half of the original Broadway musical of the same name. Written by Winnie Holzman with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, “Wicked” debuted on Broadway in 2003, starring Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda and Idina Menzel as Elphaba.

The musical is an incredibly loose adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s 1995 adult novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” which is essentially a fanfiction of 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz.” That movie, which is an adaptation of the original 1902 stage play, is based off the book by L. Frank Baum.

The first thing I noticed about the film version of “Wicked” was how colorful and bright everything was, even Elphaba.

Oz, of course, is a very colorful place, but this vibrancy translates to everything. The movie is well-lit, and Elphaba isn’t just a green girl dressed in black. Her skin has depth and contour, her eyes are bright, her lips have dimension, her hair has texture, her nails are painted. The movie breathes with life. It’s magical realism at its finest.

Despite any initial doubts, the entire cast was exceptional. Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz, Keala Settle as Miss Coddle and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible were such amazing, authentic choices for the supporting leads that I knew the movie would be enjoyable before I entered the theatre.

Marissa Bode, who made her film debut as Nessarose, is the first actor who authentically uses a wheelchair to play the role. She’s an absolute delight to watch, and seeing the world of Oz be accessible and move with her instead of against her was spectacular.

Also, Bowen Yang’s comedic timing and improvisation as Pfannee throughout the duration of the film would make any theater kid giggle.

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Now, it may seem controversial to some, but Elphaba being portrayed by Black woman adds a layer of nuance. I have seen several different Elphabas take the stage over the years, and the performance is just a little more powerful when you can tell the actor resonates with the character’s struggle.

What is that struggle, you ask? I could sit down and talk about how “Wicked” at its core (and at the surface level, really) is about racism, politics and the demonization of women of color. But that’s not what this review is about.

From the second she is born, Elphaba is hated, feared and villainized by nearly everyone because of the color of her skin, because she is green. Working with the Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City is the one place Elphaba believes she will be accepted for her greenness and magic abilities, but when she refuses to turn a blind eye to the wizard’s moral failings, she is rejected and hunted. Her enemies publicly declare her green skin as a physical manifestation of her “wickedness.”

Cynthia Erivo was the absolute correct choice for this production. Not only is she a powerhouse vocalist, but her timing and skill as an actress brought Elphaba to life. Erivo’s Elphaba — complete with her long nails and microbraids — gave us a beautiful, smart, selfless and strong character to root for.

My next opinion is probably even more controversial, but here it is: Ariana Grande’s portrayal of Glinda was fine.

It was cute! But it met my expectations. Like many things in this film, we were able to get a deeper understanding of Glinda’s character, her personality and her desires. Grande has a lovely soprano voice, a flair for dancing and many of her characters quirks. However, I wouldn’t say her portrayal was monumental.

“Wicked” is not about her. It’s about Elphaba.

Through the film, we see callbacks to her childhood and the moments that shaped her from beginning to end. We see her hopes and dreams of acceptance in “The Wizard and I,” her regrets and secret desires in “I’m not that Girl” and her realization in “Defying Gravity.”
We also see the moment where Elphaba is truly seen and understood by someone else in

“Dancing through Life,” which is the biggest/longest ensemble musical number.
Several changes were made for it to make sense on screen, and though new music and choreography shaped the story a little differently, it included nods to both the original stage production and the 1939 “Wizard of Oz” film. This number includes choreography for everyone, utilizing massive moving set pieces and allowing moments for the chorus and supporting cast to really shine.

I am not a fan of musicals being split up into two parts when adapted for the screen.
However, because this film was only act I, the whole two hours and 40 minutes gave the story the space it needed. Musicals made for the stage typically move quickly because they have to. This movie didn’t leave much to the imagination in a glorious way — from the massive sets to the tiniest props, detailed costuming and intricate choreography, “Wicked” brought the magic of Oz to life.

There are quite a few moments or lines in “Wicked” that are given space to breathe and time for the audience to laugh or gasp or clap. I think these moments translated very well to the movie and allow viewers to really engage.

I know movie tickets are expensive these days, and the holiday season makes things trickier, but go see this one if you can. It’s vibrant and lovely, the songs will get stuck in your head and you will probably want to buy the book to find out what happens next — I don’t recommend that. It’s an adult novel with adult themes and content. Go see the musical the movie is based on instead.

The North American touring production of “Wicked” comes to the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in Indianapolis June 19-July 6, 2025.

Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.