The spark of newness was always going to be absent from “Wicked: For Good,” replaced with a sense of curious anticipation and for some, cautious optimism. That’s not a knock on the latest Part 2 adaption, more of a re contextualization of expectations. And there are probably even higher bars for the sequel to clear given the heights “Wicked” left us with, so the need for success is necessary to bring it all home. What transpires is a somewhat of a mixed bag, a second act that certainly takes a darker tone and injects a deeper emotional core than its counterpart, but due to the barebones narrative of the adaptive source material lacks the soaring exhilaration felt leaving the theater humming “Defying Gravity.”
Of course even in original show nothing after reaches those heights, and my reservations stem from my own issues with Act 2 as a whole even before its adaption for the silver screen. There are plenty who prefer the second act over the first, and like all things in art no one is right or wrong. There’s so much to take away from it all in its entirety that fighting over which act is better feels like wasted discourse. My own perspective and relationship to the material finds this film struggling with the same kind of narrative constraints of its stage production counterpart, and the need to pad a roughly 40 minute act into a 2+ hour film makes the adaptive work bloated, busy and meandering all at the same time. “Wicked: For Good” just doesn’t have enough meat on the bones to warrant the extended version even if it makes cinematic sense to do so.
That’s not to say there aren’t things to enjoy in this conclusion. While I have some reservations about the final product I didn’t walk away sour on it either. While this film may share in the similar narrative stumbles on stage, all of those misgivings are melted thanks to Cynthia Erivio and Ariana Grande’s tremendous performances. These women possess immeasurable talent and not even the big screen is large enough to fully contain it. Though expands beyond what the story can sustain, “Wicked: For Good” gives both much more emotional depth to tap into, and a lot of that is centered on Grande who undergoes the most dramatic change and emotional turmoil. If “Wicked” belongs to Elphaba, then “Wicked: For Good” belongs to G(a)linda.
The friendship and sisterhood the two women share is undeniable, and their struggles and changes for good are the true emotional crux of the film. “Wicked: For Good” wholly relies on the superpowers of Erivo and Grande, and they deliver strong, resonant performances to nearly overcome many of the other qualms and cinematic gripes one may have. Sure, it doesn’t leave you singing or humming or immediately jumping into you car and blasting the soundtrack you just watched. But these women deserve all of the magical gifts for their work, and they stand as the reason to see this film and see their journey through to the end.
Erivo explodes once again with “No Good Deed,” a performance so powerful my entire theater broke out in applause. Grande peels back the daft blonde persona and reveals new layers with “Girl in the Bubble,” and both women rip your heart out with “For Good,” the culminating song of their friendship.
So yes, the film IS good, but it fall short of being great and – again like its stage show – is a step down from its predecessor. The costumes are exquisite, the production design and set pieces are quite stunning, and the performances from its leads are magnificent. But, it IS bogged down by its sluggish, busy runtime, less infectious tunes and washed out color palette…again. I just don’t understand why anyone would choose to light things this way. Oz is suppose to be alive with colors; hell G(a)linda is pink personified, but you would never know it because all of the emralds and greens and pinks and yellows are washed in sea of grays and whites. It’s somehow worse here, and I wish so much something so vibrant wasn’t colored with such blandness.
These gripes probably won’t matter to most, and fans of the show, the first film, the leading ladies and sure, those with a blinding crush on Jonathan Bailey will most likely champion “Wicked: For Good,” lauding it with immense praise and “greatest movie ever made” hyperbole. And truthfully, I’m glad. Musical adaptions are nearly impossible to get right on screen, and a few stumbles at the finish line still rank both films up there among the best and deliver an epic, heartfelt conclusion worth experiencing.
I don’t know if “Wicked: For Good” left me changed for the better, but because I knew this is as good as these adaptions can get, I am changed for good. That’s good enough and I couldn’t be happier.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
“Wicked: For Good” is playing in theaters November 21st. You can watch the trailer below:
