Recently the Wicked Movie dropped in theaters November 22! The movie received great reviews from Musical Theater fanatics and new viewers alike. The main stars included Cynthia Erivo ,who played the iconic role of Elphaba, and Ariana Grande who played Glinda. Both stars brought their own experiences and unique skills to world renown roles, receiving a lot of praise for their performances. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film adaptation of Wicked brings the magical world of Oz to life with practical effects and alluring visuals, a wonderful take on the Broadway classic.
This iteration of the misunderstood “wicked witch of the west” allows viewers to understand what led up to the opening scenes of the original Wizard of Oz. Cynthia Erivo’s performance is both powerful and captivating, demonstrating the complexity around Elphaba’s inner turmoil. Similarly, Ariana Grande captures the charm and lightheartedness of Glinda the Good with vocals that immediate immerse the audience. This duo proved to be dynamic on and off the screen and their chemistry is strong, evident in their interviews.
Not to be overlooked, the supporting cast consists of Michele Yeoh as Madame Moribble, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq, and Marissa Bode as Nessarose. Each of these stars portrayed the Characters to the fullest on the screen, from “Dancing Through Life” to “A Sentimental Man”, further developing the richness of the film.
Despite the pressure from fans to create a wonderful film adaptation of the beloved musical, the movie successfully stays true to the original, while incorporating new cinematic ideas. As Cynthia Erivo’s rendition of the iconic ending riff of “Defying Gravity” echoes through the theater, it is truly a spectacle. This solidifies Wickeds underlying themes of resilience and quite literally defying expectations. Through this wonderful star studded cast and adaptation we are reminded that, like Elphaba, we can all rise up and defy what tries to hold us down.