Wicked: The Yellow-Brick Road to Oz
As soon as I was offered the opportunity to attend an early screening of Jon M. Chu's Wicked, I leaped. I made sure I had it written down on all of my calendars and planners. Wicked (2024) has one of the most star-studdedly talented casts Hollywood has put together in a while. Starring Ariana Grande-Butera as Galinda the Good Witch, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, Johnathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, and more, Wicked offers a gravity-defying live-screen storytelling of Gregory Maguire's Wicked series infused with spots of Frank L. Baum's Wizard of Oz and crossovers of Winnie Holtzman and Stephen Schwartz' Wicked on Broadway.
If I'm being entirely honest I don't know where to begin while writing about the film. Allow me to start with the casting. The casting is one like I have never seen. Each actor couldn't have been better suited to play their respective parts. Every element down to their musical enunciation emulated the characters from all previous adaptations. Ariana Grande could not have been better for the role of Galinda. Having grown up with her from her days as Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon's Victorious, her acting and vocal progression have been things that she has never faltered on. At the age of 10, Grande met her idol Kristin Chenoweth, who played the original Galinda in the 2003 Broadway adaptation of Wicked. This could not have been more of a full-circle moment for her. On the same dime, Cynthia Erivo is an absolute vocal powerhouse. She is no stranger to Broadway either, having played Celie in The Color Purple's revival. Erivo is only one win away from reaching EGOT status. Having achieved an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony award by the age of 37 along with her outstanding performance as Elphaba in Wicked is sure to put her in the running for the Academy's Oscar. Winning this would make her the youngest EGOT holder in the history of time. Both Grande and Erivo could not have been better candidates for Galinda and Elphaba. They are one another's platonic soulmates in every sense of the term. This is visible through their on-screen and off-screen chemistry.
Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh made for the perfect Madame Morrible. Though she stated she was very nervous to be singing, her channeling of emotions matched those of Carole Shelley. She's one of those characters that you know are evil, but you have no choice but to admire the way they carry themselves. Johnathan Bailey is no different in caliber. The Bridgerton heartthrob did it yet again with his playing of Fiyero. Watching what he did with the "Dancing Through Life" number really brought Fiyero to life and made me especially excited for Wicked Part 2. Lastly, Jeff Goldblum. We all know him, and we all love him, whether it's from the Jurassic Park series or Two Gentleman of Verona. The mystery and cunningness he brings to each of his roles make him the perfect Wizard of Oz.
There have been many stories and spin-offs that have stemmed from Victor Fleming's Wizard of Oz (1983) starring Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton, and more. Wicked is the newest addition to the Ozian family. Despite being the baby of the family, director Jon M. Chu and composer Stephen Schwartz made sure that homage was paid to Fleming's Oz while giving the cast creative musical freedom.
If 9 million tulips being planted in a rainbow formation isn't enough for the revival of practical sets and effects, I'm not sure what is. The sets of the Emerald City, Shiz University, Munchkinland, and more, have all been built to scale from the ground up with the most astonishing level of detail. I tip my hat to production designer Nathan Crowley and director Jon M. Chu. There is no better way to portray a modern-day Oz.
Alongside this, the creators included sweet easter eggs for fans. Just to name a few: Universal Studio's logo reverted to the 1939 vintage logo paying respect to the Wizard of Oz (1939), the film's title card matched the one from 1939, the 9 million tulips were placed in rainbow order to honor Judy Garland's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", we see Nessarose's silver heels with a heel resembling a tornado as a nod to Dorothy, a foreshadowing of the Animal cause as Elphaba shatters the Wizard's mural, and even more.
Musically, this has been one of the most anticipated projects of the year. As usual, Stephen Schwartz did not disappoint. Hearing the soundtrack felt like I was 8 years old again listening to Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel on Broadway. Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Johnathan Bailey, and Jeff Goldblum really brought their individual musical touches to their various numbers. You knew who the actor was behind the character. This added more depth to their characters. The minor musical changes such as adding consecutive key changes to "Popular", adding cameo's of Chenoweth and Menzel to the Wizomania choir and the Wizard chanting "Ohmaha" on "One Short Day", and emphasizing the "unlimited" theme in "Defying Gravity" were pleasant new surprises to old fans.
To say the very least, Wicked shattered my expectations for good. The depth that each actor brought to their character put together the puzzle pieces that make up the world of Oz. Each character's individuality teaches us lessons about humanity. Galinda's need to people please, Fiyero's battle of being vain or outwardly intelligent, the Wizard's morally gray illusions, Madam Morrible's manipulative demeanor, and Elphaba's brave, strong-willed personality. We all have one of these people in our lives. Additionally, placing emphasis on wanting to create an equal world for every living member of Oz, is highly reflective of Earth's own political climate. Elphaba's fight for the Animal cause is the equivalent to the fight of activists we see on the steps of the White House, on the streets, and on social media wanting to bring about a better life. Whether it be for social justice, equality, love, or environmental protection, our causes are our passions. And our passions are what we will risk everything for. Wicked brings all of this to life.
