The long-awaited cinematic conclusion to the fantastical tale of Oz, Wicked: For Good, finally descends upon UK theatres this Friday, following a year-long anticipation. Director Jon M. Chu's second instalment sees the return of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, reprising their roles as Elphaba and Glinda, as their story converges with the iconic events of The Wizard of Oz.
Critical Acclaim for Stellar Performances
Early reviews flooding in ahead of the film's release are hailing the blockbuster sequel as a resounding success. Much of the praise is directed at the two leads, with critics labelling their performances as 'powerhouse'. Particular emphasis is being placed on Ariana Grande's portrayal of Glinda, which is already generating significant Oscar buzz.
David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter stated that Grande 'owns' Part Two, effortlessly bringing Glinda to 'luminous life'. He commended her tender depths during quiet moments and her unwavering loyalty to Elphaba, while also celebrating Erivo as a 'powerhouse' with 'pipes that shake the heavens'.
A Deeper, Darker Narrative
The film continues the story of Erivo's Elphaba, now exiled as the Wicked Witch of the West, as she reunites with her foe-turned-friend Glinda to challenge the Wizard, played by Jeff Goldblum. Critics note that Wicked: For Good presents a 'darker' and more intimate narrative compared to its predecessor.
Variety's Peter Debruge described the film as a 'thrillifying follow-up', arguing that while the first part was Elphaba's story of empowerment, this one focuses on Glinda's redemption. He also praised Chu's 'spectacular' rendition for fixing a common complaint from the stage show by giving the two leads more scenes and songs together.
USA Today's Brian Truitt highlighted the 'crowd-pleasing narrative' that weaves the classic Technicolor plot of The Wizard of Oz into the film, emphasising 'feelings rather than showstoppers'. He rated the film an impressive three and a half out of four stars.
Not Universally Flawless
Despite the overwhelming positivity, some critiques have emerged. The Associated Press felt the film sometimes resembled a 'Production' more than a movie, with characters being shuffled on and offstage. The Wrap's William Bibbiani argued that the plot gets tangled in its effort to tie into The Wizard of Oz, sometimes at the expense of the central relationship between Elphaba and Glinda.
Nevertheless, the consensus is highly favourable. Deadline's Pete Hammond declared that Wicked: For Good 'flies even higher than the first', crediting both Erivo and Grande for their exceptional work. The film currently holds a 74% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 97% Verified Audience score.
Built on a reported $320 million budget, this epic two-part musical, which also stars Michelle Yeoh and Jonathan Bailey, is set to captivate audiences when it lands in cinemas on Friday, November 21.
