“I’ve seen people are really taking the lyrics of defying gravity and really holding space with it.” These words, spoken by a journalist in an interview with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, broke the internet. As debates circulate on what exactly it means to “hold space,” some have presumed that it means to be emotionally present with something. The question is—are we holding space for Wicked?
WICKED—the global Broadway phenomenon has now hit the theaters with the all-new film adaptation starring Ariana Grande (Glinda) and Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba). While the film has received outstanding reviews from film enthusiasts all over the world, it has also brought many fans of the musical out of their shells, speaking on behalf of the original Broadway.
Upon watching this film after Thanksgiving, and seeing the musical twice, once in Seattle and again in New York City, my love for the story has not diminished. The delivery of this story, however, is primarily the focus of this review—where I will be comparing and contrasting the Broadway musical with the film adaptation.
First, let’s start with what I liked most about the film.
- Casting
The media has specifically shown interest in the casting of the characters, especially Glinda (played by Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo). While jokes have circulated throughout the internet regarding certain interviews and scenes, criticism of the casting has been minimal (and for a reason!). Both actresses beautifully portrayed the characters and effectively brought depth to their roles. Their vocal performances were outstanding, and the production quality was phenomenal. The two perfectly encapsulated their personalities and intertwined them with their character design—making the film far more personal to the actors.
- Music
I briefly mentioned the vocal performances of Grande and Erivo, but I have to add that the music in this film was beyond incredible. The consistency with lyricism to the original musical while maintaining a unique flow was skillfully executed and fabulously performed. Growing up with songs like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular” being favorites, I will include that they have reached that level of excellence as perceived in the musical.
- Storytelling
The story of Wicked is very complex and can be difficult to execute. However, this film does an excellent job of capturing the essence of Wicked by providing a detailed and compelling style of storytelling. When film adaptations are made, it isn’t uncommon for various details to be lost or overlooked. This movie seemingly ensured that every detail was recognized and presented the story far more thoroughly, accurately, and in-depth than I had expected.
While this film has many positive elements that stood out to me, there was primarily one specific critique that I would recommend for viewers to consider before watching the movie.
This film runs for two hours and 40 minutes—approximately three hours.
When I entered the theater, I was knowledgeable about the longevity of the movie, but I wasn’t aware it was only the first half (part one). The film was not advertised to be only the first half of the story, and as someone who has seen the musical, I question whether or not the one-year intermission is optimal for the storyline.
Simply out of personal preference, the second half is undoubtedly far more intriguing and captivating. While the first half involves some of the popular musical performances (i.e. “Defying Gravity’” “Popular,” and “No One Mourns the Wicked”), the second half is what truly draws the audience as it showcases the climax of the story. Because this climax has not been seen by the newer crowd, many audience members have already suggested differing opinions on the film as a whole—it’s like judging an entire book by the first half. I believe that three hours is lengthy to only provide the first half, and this remains my top critique of the movie as a whole.
Nevertheless, the movie overall was a solid 9/10. The quality exceeded all expectations and I do believe that this was one of the better films produced this year (2024).
