A year after the release of “Wicked”, writers Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, along with director Jon H. Chu, released the long-awaited second part of the musical, “Wicked: For Good”.
“Wicked: For Good” provides fans with a powerful continuation of the first part, featuring beautifully emotional songs that impact the audience in an intense and moving way, leaving everyone on the edge of their seat.
With the first part left off with Elphaba running off on her broomstick to convince the City of Oz that the wizard is a fraud, this second film picks up by showing the consequences of their choice to defy higher authority, which creates a sense of personal intimacy with each of the characters.
The visual aspects of the movie were captivating and stunning, as the magical land of Oz is presented through epic sets, flashy and fun lighting, and gorgeous costumes. This second part of the movie has a darker color and aspect to it, which foreshadows the harsh ending. The emotional weight was enhanced by the cinematography, especially scenes like reflection and even confrontation.
“I really liked it, and I honestly thought it was better than the first one. Probably my favorite movie all year,” Piper Gordon ‘27 said.
The character development throughout the whole movie was exceptional, especially Elphaba’s, as she turns into the Wicked Witch of the West, as actress Cynthia Erivo flawlessly portrays her as not a villain but a hero with a tragic ending. We can see Elphaba carries an emotional burden of loneliness, yet internal strength, as she stands against the Wizard’s corrupt ways of governing the people of Oz.
Ariana Grande’s character, Glinda the Good, is also inspiring as she longs to gain popularity, but also sees the cons to her decision. The friendship between these two characters is very complicated yet beautiful, as the song “For Good” exemplifies how they both have shaped each other’s lives.
Not only have Elphaba and Glinda changed each other’s lives, but the actresses also share a bond and are deeply impacted by each other.
“To be able to act with [Erivo] and to share a space and to be a scene partner with you was the greatest privilege of my professional life,” Grande said, according to TODAY.
The most memorable part of this beautiful film is the message, which challenges the idea of good versus evil, along with how people can twist the actual truth. The creators want viewers to leave the theaters and understand the meaning of sacrifice for love and integrity, while also leaving a bittersweetness to the dynamic duo of Elphaba and Glinda.
Overall, I’d rate this movie a solid 8/10. I liked the first movie a lot more than this one, but they connected the Wizard of Oz beautifully in the second and really emphasized the relationship between Glinda the Good and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
