Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good takes viewers back to the Emerald City five years after the events of Wicked as Elphaba’s (Cynthia Erivo) efforts to overthrow the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) come to a head. The film adaptation of this 2003 musical’s second act is a powerful, tense, but timely look at the harms of political corruption and society’s perception of good and evil. Those messages are delivered through a tragically beautiful friendship that changed us all for good.
Wicked: For Good starts years after part one’s finale, “Defying Gravity,” with Elphaba working as the Wicked Witch of the West to expose the truth about Oz. Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) are being used by the Wizard and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) to propagate lies about their friend and protect the Wizard’s secret. As the stakes rise and Glinda’s “Glinda the Good” persona begins to crack, both she and Fiyero must leave the Emerald City behind to stand by Elphie before it’s too late.
One of this movie’s biggest strengths is the complexity of its characters, most notably Glinda. Though aware of the Wizard’s evil and worried for Elphie’s safety, she initially lets the limelight keep her from doing the right thing. Early on, however, she starts to realize that being adored by Oz at the expense of her best friend isn’t actually making her happy. By the end, a traumatized and guilt-filled Glinda returns to the City and stands up to the Wizard and Morrible. Glinda’s character arc is drastic and emotional, and Ariana Grande’s portrayal of it all – from her bubbly and witty humor to her deep heartbreak – leaves no dry eye. Glinda’s complexity is what makes her my favorite character by far.
The writing and acting are exceptional, but the music is what makes this a truly memorable movie. The songs, composed by Stephen Schwartz, capture the emotional weight of each character’s story, and this is elevated by the incredible vocal talent of Erivo and Grande. Some of my favorite songs were “Thank Goodness,” “The Girl in the Bubble,” “No Good Deed” and “For Good.” On the surface, “Thank Goodness” is a fun song about Oz’s love for Glinda, but it reveals the first fractures in Glinda’s facade as she tries to convince the Munchkins – and herself – that she’s living a dream when that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“No Good Deed” and “The Girl in the Bubble” represent Elphie and Glinda’s respective turning points, with Elphaba surrendering to the “Wicked” label placed on her and Glinda resolving to pop her “bubble” of privilege and complacency. All of these songs are beautifully written and convey Elphie and Glinda’s journeys perfectly. The final song, “For Good,” is one of the most powerful moments of the movie. It’s an emotional tribute to the girls’ friendship right before a heartbreaking climax.
One downfall of Wicked: For Good is the ending. After the roller coaster viewers just embarked on, the way it ends felt unresolved and left us wanting just a few more minutes of storyline. However, Universal has hinted to a third movie, which may fill in the gaps.
Wicked: For Good is a must-see movie, but make sure to come armed with tissues.
