Director John M. Chu has proven his mettle with his last two films (“Rich Crazy Asians” and “In the Heights”), so giving him the reins for the film adaptation of one of the most successful musicals made sense. And indeed, Chu delivers with aplomb.
The film is a colorful, joyous version of the live production which has beguiled countless attendees. Even if you never venture back to see the second half, this first half stands well on its own.
Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba, the misunderstood student at a Hogwarts-like school in Oz. She is both a roommate and a foil to Galinda (Ariana Grande), the seeming darling of the campus. The guy behind the curtain, er…The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is played by the ever-delightful Jeff Goldblum.
The premise of “Wicked” was based on the valid assumption that everyone knows the story from the 1939 film. By pulling from the basic storyline and offering a different take, the writers were both able to leverage the eternal popularity of the original AND chart new territory. (Disney did that back in the day with “Lion King 1½” by telling the story from the perspective of the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern characters Pumbaa and Timon). It is a delicate balance, but here writers Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox weave a compelling plot that is often moved forward when the characters burst into song.
The story precedes the arrival of Dorothy and her friends (although sharp-eyed viewers will see the quartet fleetingly on the Yellow Brick Road as the camera zooms us to the Emerald City). Perhaps the more fascinating cameo is that of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who played the original leads on Broadway.
For those looking a bit deeper than the delightfully frothy sheen of the film, there is a strong message about not believing all that is presented as truth by leaders. This might rub some viewers the wrong way, but it is an unexpected depth that will resonate long after the music ends.
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