In “Wicked: For Good,” Ariana Grande plays the perfect and popular Good Witch, Glinda, and the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, is played by Cynthia Erivo. Both “Wicked” and its sequel were directed by Jon M. Chu, who is also known for his work on “Crazy Rich Asians.”
“Wicked: For Good” explores the reason why Glinda wants to develop real magic skills, instead of depending on her popularity to wield power in Oz. Meanwhile, Elphaba aims to reveal the truth about the Wizard of Oz and prevent the animals of Oz from going mute.
“I thought [Wicked: For Good] was so good. I love all the music,” said Julia Zeidman, an undergraduate criminal justice student. “I’ve been listening to it on loop non-stop.”
The movie also explores how being born with green skin or looking like a beautiful fairy impacted the lives of two women drastically. While the first film portrays the redemption of Elphaba through Glinda’s efforts to make Elphaba more popular, its sequel engages both Glinda and Elphaba to become more authentic and realistic.
In “Wicked: For Good,” after several failed attempts to convince the Munchkins living in Oz that the Wizard of Oz was a hoax, Elphaba realizes she must recognize her own limits to save Oz.
Similar to the Broadway production of “Wicked” both films are musicals. The song “For Good” begins with Elphaba singing, “I’m limited,” and both Glinda and Elphaba sing that they have both “been changed for good,” since they knew each other.
“I watched it over Thanksgiving break with my family, and personally I just didn’t enjoy it as much as the first one,” Sadie Perkins, a business management student, said. “I know the second act struggled in the musical itself, and I just didn’t love the new songs, or like, I don’t know, just how [the story] went. It just wasn’t as good as the first one.”
The choices made by the media and production team of “Wicked: For Good,” including its release during the holiday season, contributed to its box office opening of about $150 million in North American theaters. The movie runs for 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Criticisms of the film include the color correction used, causing certain visuals to appear washed out, including the appearance of the scarecrow character later into the movie.
“I had some issues with the scarecrow makeup,” said marine biology undergraduate Katilyn Carpenter. “And there was some acting that was just kind of corny in a way. But overall, I really liked it. I was having fun. I teared up a little bit and the music was really beautiful.”
Much praise has gone towards the production teams of both films for the casting of two extremely talented singers as Elphaba and Glinda. The choreography and visuals were stunning homages to the Wizard of Oz and to the “Wicked” Broadway musical.
The movie will resonate closely with young audiences, with story beats that are obvious enough to notice references to the first film and subplot that aligns with the original story, the Wizard of Oz.
Throughout the film, there are several reminders that Munchkins hate the Wicked Witch of the West, with the song, “No One Mourns for the Wicked,” and posters that warn of Elphaba’s evildoings.
The attitudes towards Elphaba reveal the current state of how society is quick to call out for the deaths of people who are socially perceived as evil. The film is resolved by uplifting the sentient animals without directly addressing the stereotypes held towards people with green skin, but animal advocates have expressed appreciation for the film’s messaging of valuing our animal companions.
Jeff Goldblum, who plays the Wizard of Oz, said he was personally impacted by the messaging of the story to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle.
“Working with Jon Chu […] It’s changed me. After this movie, we talked about animal cruelty. I stopped eating meat and poultry,” said Goldblum on This Morning. “So, this Christmas and Thanksgiving, I may be having another something else.”
