Release Date: Nov. 22, 2024
Director: John M. Chu
MPAA Rating: PG
Rating: A-
A movie filled with friendship, love and hope, “Wicked” has come out on theaters on Nov. 22, grossing $164 million during its opening weekend. Directed by John Chu, “Wicked” tells the story of the infamous and misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo. Based off of the Broadway musical “Wicked”, Erivo and Ariana Grande tell the story of the first act, moving hearts and shedding tears.
“I know this movie has been in the works for a long time. I’ve also seen a lot of clips of interviews of [Erivo] and [Grande] about the movie and from there I was just curious. Especially because I’m a fan of [Grande] and I was curious to see if the movie would be as good as it’s been hyped up to be,” junior Samantha Gonzalez said.
Right from the beginning of the movie, whether the audience is familiar with the broadway musical or not, the first song sets the tone for the rest of the movie as a written and musical masterpiece. “No One Mourns the Wicked” sung by Grande opens the movie and gives the audience everything and more. As a highly regarded artist, audiences have had high expectations for Grande. Her high pitches and acting exceed these expectations, even causing long-time fans to speculate and spread theories on the meaning behind every one of her actions as Glinda.
As the movie continues, what is immediately noticeable are the vocals of Erivo. In her first song, “The Wizard and I”, Erivo’s unique and distinguishable vocals shock the audience, spreading goosebumps as she perfectly executes each note. Especially with most of the attention turned toward Grande, Erivo successfully proved her worth on the movie with ease through her vocals and impressive acting.
“When the movie ended I was like wait, there isn’t more? The Wizard of Oz felt like a completed story, this didn’t feel as complete and I was expecting a lot so I was kind of surprised. It was really good but it wasn’t enough,” junior Serafina Baraloto said.
As the audience is introduced to both characters, it is immediately clear that both actors have impeccable chemistry, providing humor and genuine love for the relationship both characters hold. Song such as “Popular” and “What is this Feeling” combined with the antics of Glinda, give a comedic feeling to this movie, making watchers in theaters smile and laugh.
Other than the soundtrack of the musical, the chemistry of all the actors on set are a big part of the movie and its plot. Despite the comedic relief that Glinda provides at time, the actors almost perfectly transition into each meaningful scene with purpose. The introduction of the discrimination of animals within Oz is executed perfectly, hushing the theater once the audience realizes the seriousness of the situation. The moment Glinda and Elphaba make amends, their tears and expressions make it clear that the friendship between these two aspiring witches truly runs deep.
“For most people it was probably a really good movie but since I don’t like musicals that much I didn’t really enjoy it. They kept singing and I didn’t like it that much,” freshman Hazel Stampler said.
It is not only the two main characters who make this movie what it is. Prince Fiyero, played by Jonathan Bailey, gives the audience a deep understanding of his character from more of a surface level, allowing them to interpret his own emotion toward Elphaba without needing to use words.
While the movie does have a considerable run time of one hour and 40 minutes, the end of the film makes up for it, leaving the audience at the edge of their seats with each plot twist and action-filled scene. What can only be considered as the most breathtaking ending to any musical plays out as Erivo sings “Defying Gravity” executing perfect vocals combined with the movie’s flawless graphics.
However, right when Elphaba escapes from the wizard and leaves Glinda behind, the audience is met with an abrupt stop to the movie. This unexpected ending has brought some controversy because many fans who are unfamiliar with the ending wish to continue this story and will now have to likely wait one whole year. Nonetheless, the astounding acting and excellent vocals are enough for the audience to process for these coming years.
“I wanted to see “Wicked” because I’ve seen the Broadway musical and it was really good. Watching it in theaters was a totally different experience and I think that the movie was really amazing and I think it was beautiful. The singing was very good for the whole movie and honestly I liked the movie more because the movie experience was better,” junior Orly Schoolman-wood said.
“Wicked” is a movie filled with captivating visuals and a brilliant plot which are perfected with beautiful vocals and acting that cause laughter and tears in seconds. It is a film that was met with high hopes from fans all over the world and not only has it delivered, it has far exceeded these expectations.
