Movie Review: Wicked: For Good Falls Short of Expectations
Going into the first installment of the stage-to-screen adaptation of the smash Broadway musical “Wicked” last year, the primary concern was the seemingly bloated running time. However, the 160-minute film managed to fully immerse the audience in the reimagined world of Oz, leaving them eager for the next part of the story. Unfortunately, the sequel, “Wicked: For Good,” fails to recapture the magic of its predecessor, coming across as dark, gloomy, and utterly lacking in mirth.
Based on the 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” the 2003 musical take retells the classic tale through the eyes of schoolmates Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande), a pair of friends/rivals who ultimately become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The first film offered a series of terrific songs and eye-popping dance sequences, culminating with the show’s signature tune, “Defying Gravity.” In contrast, “Wicked: For Good” comes across like a bad hangover, with depressed and depressing characters and situations, and one of the bleakest happy endings around.
A Disappointing Sequel
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) has transformed the land into an authoritarian state with the help of sorceress Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and his army of enslaved winged monkeys. Meanwhile, Galinda is poised to marry a prince, Fiyero Tigelaar (Jonathan Bailey), a move she hopes will inspire the people of Oz. As for Elphaba, she’s become public enemy number one thanks to her efforts to free the aforementioned flying monkeys and all of the other animals the Wizard of Oz has attempted to silence.
The second act of a musical should, in theory, build on the strengths of the first and bring the story together in a satisfying and timely manner. “Wicked: For Good” instead drags things out with lengthy and repetitive scenes. The songs aren’t as strong, either, and the two new ones add little to the proceedings. While the source material is definitely not for kids, the musical and the films are marketed toward a wide audience of all ages. However, parents should be warned that “Wicked: For Good” may be too dark and mature for some youngsters, and at times, it’s even scary.
A Few Bright Spots
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande make the most of what they’ve got, with Erivo being a magnetic persona with a magical voice, and Grande imbuing Galinda with the perfect combination of charm and a deceiving aura of empty headedness. The film’s witty and cutting portrayal of Dorothy Gale also offers some much-needed laughs. However, these few bright spots are not enough to save the film from its overall disappointing tone and pace.
In the end, “Wicked: For Good” squanders its predecessor’s strengths and overstays its welcome. With a runtime of 137 minutes, it’s actually 23 minutes shorter than the first film, yet comes across as a seemingly endless slog. Director Jon M. Chu somehow makes two sequences of liberation utterly joyless, leaving the audience feeling drained and unsatisfied.
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