Wicked: For Good Review
Thank goodness that fans did not need to wait so long to see the return of this cinematic re-imagining of Wicked. In fact, the anticipation for Wicked’s second part sent me down a spiral to not just watch the original film, but also the 1939 film, weirdly enough. Even though it might also be because it’s been a while since I saw the Broadway musical in-person, I was very much hoping that Wicked: For Good could live up to my own hype. Although, much like the second act of the actual musical, Wicked: For Good only allows itself so much ground to cover.
For those unfamiliar, Wicked: For Good covers a time jump since we last saw Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda (Ariana Grande), now just Glinda. As Glinda is made into an influential public icon, Elphaba is turned into a monster, in part due to Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and the Wizard’s (Jeff Goldblum) doing. Though Elphaba tries to do good, her actions inevitably lead to losing family and friends as a peculiar house and girl come around.
The biggest thing that makes Wicked: For Good different from the first part is that it doesn’t feel like Elphaba’s story. Instead, this installment has a stronger focus on Glinda, which is felt right from the get-go. Much like how Wicked explored Elphaba’s backstory, director Jon M. Chu takes liberty in showing one of Glinda’s previous birthdays, where the soon-to-be Ozian icon wants “real” magic. With this flashback highlighting Glinda’s real spark, it does give a bit of an edge to the character that’s felt in Grande’s performance later on.
In fact, though Erivo and Grande are mostly apart in this film, both of them truly allow Elphaba and Glinda to have a renewed sense of agency. Unlike how the two had a youthful rivalry given that setting, the second act of the Broadway musical puts these two into more heavy-handed situations. The biggest example of this doesn’t come until the aftermath of Dorothy’s arrival, where Elphaba tries to confront Glinda about Nessarose’s (Marissa Bode) slippers. Much like the scene in the actual musical, this moment and other Elphaba-Glinda confrontations provide much of the film’s excitement.
Erivo’s Elphaba is, of course, still as driven and invigorated as she was in Wicked. Despite the changing environment to acclimate for Dorothy’s eventual arrival, Erivo passionately shows Elphaba’s reaching for hope to win Glinda’s heart even if her friend is enthralled by the Wizard. Her emotional drive truly shows in “No Good Deed” as well as the original song “No Place Like Home”, a dutiful reminder of that thematic exploration of prejudice and identity.
However, that isn’t to say that there are other standout performances. Particularly, Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero and Ethan Slater’s Boq really shine in those first few scenes. Boq’s hardened and cold relationship with the desperate, yet powerful Nessarose captures the irreparable damage Elphaba’s actions have caused to her surroundings, further emphasized thanks to the cinematic format. However, it’s when Boq transforms into the Tin Man that Slater’s performance truly captivates you as his rage against Elphaba knows no bounds.
As for Fiyero, he’s put into much more precarious positions that really give him a renewed strength that was only slightly felt in the original film. His switch-up to Elphaba’s side later in the film did feel like a bit soon and the eventual payoff had a bit of buildup, but Fiyero is still a needed grounding point for Elphaba. Though, it would have been nice to see Fiyero just have more depth outside of the castle plot-device mention and his overall adoration for what Elphaba does.
Though there’s much to celebrate about Wicked: For Good, it suffers from most, if not all, of the same things that held the second act back in the Broadway musical. Notably, the biggest problem is the multiple jumps in pacing we get when Dorothy is sent on her merry way. With these jumps, it feels like there are some narrative holes that need to be filled, like what Elphaba actually does to embody “wickedness” outside of Morrible and the Wizard’s propaganda. As such, it feels like this film has to do a lot more showing, which it does in some areas like Glinda’s backstory and Fiyero’s later encounters after his time with Elphaba.
Furthermore, this film might not have the same impact musically as Wicked did, but both original songs are good additions to build on Elphaba and Glinda’s characterizations. This is really felt with “The Girl in the Bubble,” it’s a great representation of that doubt built into Glinda’s character, but the singular setting of Glinda’s room almost feels a bit lacking as compared to “Popular”. Still, these songs will satisfy you.
Wicked: For Good is a spell-binding sequel that remains faithful to the second act of the Broadway musical, with stronger characterizations of Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda and powerful performances. Though it may succumb to the pitfalls that were felt in the actual musical, it might be better to see this film together with the first to get the more fulfilling experience.
Wicked: For Good releases in theaters on November 21.
Rating: ★★★½
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.