Wicked, the smash-hit movie musical, has taken audiences by storm.
This film recently came out this November, and it has swept viewers off their feet, some even defying gravity. Several fans even believe that the story of Galinda and Elphaba is better on screen than the version shown on Broadway!
Wicked recently won a Golden Globe Award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, and it has been nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture. This is well-deserved, as it is currently the highest-grossing movie ever, that was based on a Broadway musical. This title was previously held by Mamma Mia! (2008), another classic coming-of-age story.
Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and was directed by John M. Chu. Both this movie, and the original Broadway production, are based on Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which is essentially a fan-made prequel to The Wizard of Oz. It tells the backstory of how Glinda and Elphaba got to where they are, and how a good person can become wicked.
Wicked also features many other notable names in Hollywood, such as Jeff Goldblum, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Jonathan Bailey. The lead actress, Cynthia Erivo, has starred in Harriet, Pinocchio, and other Broadway productions. Ariana Grande, who performs exceptionally well in a supporting role in this film, also has an extensive filmography in many other shows and movies. Her most notable roles were in Victorious, Don’t Look Up, and Sam and Cat, but in most of her previous roles, she had little opportunity to show off her vocal abilities.
Wicked has many fan-favorite songs, including “Dancing Through Life”, “One Short Day”, my personal favorite “Popular” and “Defying Gravity”, which was recently turned into a meme due to a Target ad that Cynthia Erivo was in. The film’s opening number, “No One Mourns the Wicked”, where Grande’s vocals truly shine best, features several nods to “Defying Gravity”, both in its rhythms and notation. Many of the songs also feature incredible performances from the ensemble, and some of the songs on the soundtrack include vocals that were recorded on set.
This movie also features cameos from Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, who were the original Broadway performers of Galinda and Elphaba, respectively. Many fans of the original production were pleasantly surprised at these callbacks.
The film closely follows the original Wicked musical, preserving a majority of its songs. The storyline remains largely intact, with only minor variations throughout.
Many people doubted Grande’s abilities when they first heard she was being cast in the role of Galinda. They worried that her vocal style would lose the original musical’s Broadway charm, but they have all been proven wrong. Her vocals are a true highlight of the musical, which has led to her nomination as Best Supporting Actress.
Everything about this movie was done with incredible attention to detail, from the giant flying CGI monkeys to the embroidery on each character’s costume. It is an incredible representation of the musical feats that Hollywood can achieve, and I hope you will stay holding space for it, as the sequel is coming out this November!
