By Emily Chan
Disclaimer: This review contains spoilers for “Wicked: Part 1”.
Elphaba, Glinda. Elphaba, Glinda. She’s a witch and she’s a witch but which witch is which?
Well here’s the sitch: “Wicked: Part 1” released in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22, was a major hit, racking up $114 million at the box office domestically on its opening weekend alone.
Wicked deals with themes of prejudice, deceit and the dangers of the “us versus them” mentality. Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, was born with emerald-green skin and eyes, along with magical powers that are activated by any strong emotion. Due to her physical differences, she faces discrimination and denial of love from her father. She’s lonely and feels that her only chance of happiness is to prove her magical ability to the Wizard of Oz, the ruler of the Land of Oz.
On the contrary, Galinda, played by Ariana Grande, is a popular, beautiful blond who has had everything handed to her on a silver platter. After a less than positive first impression of each other and unexpectedly becoming roommates on their first day at Shiz University, the prestigious school of magic and science of Oz, their “loathing” of each other begins.
Galinda dislikes Elphaba due to her green skin and status as a social outcast. It also doesn’t help that Elphaba was chosen by the headmistress Madame Morrible, played by Michelle Yeoh, to practice magic instead of her. On the other hand, Elphaba believes Galinda is simply a spoiled, airhead blonde who’s unwilling to live up to her potential. Their stereotyping of each other is what causes their initial feud. However, this all changes at the Ozdust ball when Madame Morrible gifts Galinda a magical wand for her to practice with, upon Elphaba’s request. Plagued with the guilt of giving Elphaba a witch hat from her Grandma she deemed ugly and Elphaba being made fun of for it, Galinda reluctantly decides to dance with Elphaba. Though awkward at first, they begin to dance together and eventually, the whole student body joins in. From that night forward the two would form an unlikely duo and make their way to the Emerald City, upon invite from the Wizard of Oz himself, together.
As the movie progresses, it’s revealed that the wizard holds no real magical power and that he’s the one who was using the animals as a scapegoat for the problems of the land of Oz. Since Elphaba is unwilling to support the wizard and Madame Morrible in their use of her powers to silence and imprison the animals, she grabs the magical book, the Grimmer, and flees. However, she’s stopped by Galinda who tries to persuade her to stay and apologize to the wizard instead. Here, Elphaba prioritizes the livelihood of the minority while Galinda prioritizes the prestige that comes with siding with authority.
It is this difference in their values that ultimately causes the two to become separated by the end as Elphaba leaves the Emerald City singing “Defying Gravity” while Glinda stays and embraces Madame Morrible. The second part of Wicked is scheduled to be released on Nov. 21, 2025, and will pick up with Elphaba being regarded as Oz’s most wanted.
Wicked is one of those movies that’s bound to make you shed a tear. This is because it works very closely with the emotional rollercoaster that comes with societal injustice and the complex nature of friendships. Wicked’s compelling messages are further amplified by its beautiful soundtrack and its equally as beautiful visuals.
It’s clear that their production team truly put their $150 million budget to work because every time the camera panned over Oz, you best believe my jaw dropped. Since authenticity was key for Chu, nearly all of the sets for “Wicked” are made entirely from scratch. This includes Shiz University, Munchkin Land, the bullet train that takes Galinda and Elphaba to the Emerald City, and even the giant field of nine million tulip seeds. I feel that the limited use of CGI really allows the viewer to experience the grand world of Oz, alongside the actors.
Furthermore, Grande exceeded many people’s expectations, including mine with her performance. Grande is known for her ability to sustain extremely high notes and crazy vocal flips, but her ability to embody Galinda’s quirky and stuck-up style seals the deal. Additionally, Erivo perfectly captured Elphaba’s awkward yet driven personality. Combined with her mind-blowing voice, she makes every belt in “What is this feeling” and “Defying Gravity” last a lifetime. Also, the sheer fact that the two sang all of their songs live on set is even more impressive.
As a musical and movie fein, I can confidently say that “Wicked” is more than deserving of the hype. The movie does a great job of paying homage to its origins while expanding on the world and characters of Oz through the unlimited boundaries of the big screen. So why don’t you kick it and go see “Wicked” for yourself?
