Statesman Cinema: Wicked

“Wicked” has long been a personal and family favorite for me and my family. We have always enjoyed theatrical productions, especially musicals, including our favorites: “Les Misérables,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “The Music Man” and, of course, “Wicked.” All those previously listed have already had a movie adaptation I thoroughly enjoyed, with “Les Misérables” being the most recent in 2012. “Wicked” took the world by storm after its launch in 2003, winning several Tony Awards with a cast headlined by now-icons Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Galinda.  

I distinctly recall driving around with my mom in my younger years with the “Wicked” Original Broadway Cast Recording CD playing. I also saw the stage production of “Wicked” when I accompanied my oldest sister to third- and fourth-wheel with another older sister and her now-husband. When the movie adaptation was announced, we were all collectively excited — and nervous. We’d seen enough lousy movie adaptations to know this could go a long way in ruining what is an incredible production. After seeing it twice on the big screen, I’m happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the film tremendously.  

Part of what I enjoy about “Wicked” is the plot and the idea that it introduces. Almost all are familiar with the iconic story of the “The Wizard of Oz” movie. We know its characters, the simplistic story of the good and bad witch and the classic ending of good triumphing over evil. “Wicked” takes us back to before the arrival of Dorthy and Toto, giving us perspective as to how the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch came to be. According to “Wicked” it’s not quite the cut-and-dry good-versus-evil story we have become accustomed to.  

“Wicked” gives us a backstory that makes us think harder about who is truly good and evil. Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, is much more complicated than initially thought. And Glinda the Good maybe isn’t as righteous as she appears. Both become victims of circumstance and are subject to the narratives, whether true or false, that are created by the one in power: The Wizard of Oz. This is not meant to be a thorough review or explanation of the plot of “Wicked”, but it does deserve to be mentioned. Additional research and reading are recommended if you are unfamiliar with the production.  

One of my most considerable reservations coming into the movie was the casting. Menzel and Chenoweth have become synonymous with “Wicked” for their portrayals of Elphaba and Galinda, and an on-par performance is clearly a tall order. The casting of Ariana Grande as Galinda did little to calm my fears that the movie would stray too much from the stage production and become too pop-heavy. I was also not very familiar with Cynthia Erivo, having never seen any of her films and her predominantly Broadway resume. I was, however, aware of her skillset and had few reservations about the decision to cast her as Elphaba. That being said, both actresses were incredible in their roles, nailing both the vocals and acting aspects. Grande showcased her impressive vocal range, and Erivo cemented herself as one of the premier vocal actresses of the present time. Hearing more of these two come awards season would be no surprise.  

“Wicked” is not as inherently star-studded as it could have been. Sure, it has well-known names such as Grande, Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh. However, many of the actors are early in their careers and have only one or two widely recognized films or, in the case of Grande, haven’t been on the big screen much since her Nickelodeon days. Prior musical-to-movie adaptations have been loaded with stars. “Les Misérables,” for example, is headlined by big names such as Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway, among others. While doing less of this, “Wicked” was incredibly well done by all casting members and is one of the better-acted movie adaptations I’ve seen. Of course, a timely cameo from Menzel and Chenoweth just prior to the climax didn’t hurt either.  

One of the biggest concerns for any adaptation is the variability it may have from the original production. Some directors attempt to recreate the original production and score exactly, while others, in an attempt to make it unique, vary too far and somewhat butcher it. “Wicked” strikes a nice balance between the original score and making the movie distinguishable. The soundtrack is well adapted to each actor’s vocal capacities and strengths without making it too “dumbed down” or simple. Perhaps what I appreciated the most was how the songs were arranged for Grande and Erivo. There was no attempt to turn Erivo into Menzel, nor did Grande exactly imitate Chenoweth. Each song was uniquely adapted to fit the needs and strengths — or weaknesses — of the two while staying true to the foundation of the pieces.   

In addition to the soundtrack’s vocal aspect, the orchestration was very well done. Frequently, in on-stage productions, live pit orchestras can be limited by budget or space constraints. With few constraints, “Wicked” implemented sounds and combinations that, while not present in the original Broadway soundtrack, better fit the situation and feel of certain scenes or songs. The score certainly benefited from a wider variety of instruments used as well. Even with the increased orchestral capabilities, the songs were mixed in such a way as to allow the singers to be the prevalent sound in nearly all cases. This allows movie-goers to enjoy the lyrics and feel of the songs without feeling overwhelmed by exterior sounds or straining to understand the message. Overall, the soundtrack was very well done, paying homage to the original while adapting it to an on-screen environment with different capabilities.  

Overall, I was very pleased with the movie “Wicked.” The essential elements they needed to do well, they did. The music was great, the visuals were eye-popping and the story and subplot were poignant. Sure, there are parts they could improve on. The cast overall may not have quite the vocal depth one would expect with a Broadway-level production. It’s a bit long, with Part One running just four minutes less than the entire stage production at 2 hours and 40 minutes, and I could do without so much dialogue breaking up the songs. Despite these minor complaints, “Wicked” far exceeded my expectations. Even if you are not typically a musical enthusiast, “Wicked” is a fun family film that I think all will enjoy, and it truly annoyed me that I must wait another year for Part Two.