This review contains spoilers.
Anybody who enjoyed Wicked probably enjoyed Wicked: For Good. The films, like the musical, are loosely based on The Wizard of Oz. If the first act didn’t take your fancy, it’s unlikely the second will change your mind. While the plot becomes slightly more complicated and the dresses considerably more sparkly, the gist remains much the same.
Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) parted ways at the end of the first film. Now, Elphaba is flying around (literally) fighting to protect animal rights, while being branded the Wicked Witch of the West through Emerald City propaganda.
Meanwhile, Glinda is living her dream. All of Oz adores her as she carries out her duties of uplifting the land’s spirits, getting married, and pretending to possess magical powers.
Elphaba the Wicked, with her green skin and pointy hat, perfectly juxtaposes Glinda the Good in her sparkly pink princess dresses. Glinda’s image is tightly controlled by the Wizard of Oz and Madam Morrible, neither of whom are particularly convincing in their roles. Boq (Ethan Slater), however, is far more credible as the ‘Tin Man’, wronged by the state, yet directing his anger toward Elphaba.
Elphaba’s and Glinda’s contrasting frenemy roles culminate in a scene just after they reconcile, when Elphaba almost believes the Wizard will accept her demands to free the animals. Instead, she discovers his dungeon filled with caged creatures.
The film then cuts back and forth between Elphaba walking down a dark corridor, uncovering the truth, and Glinda walking down the aisle of her fairy-tale wedding; all her dreams coming true because she profits happily from the lies Elphaba cannot ignore.
Credit where credit is due: the outfits are fabulous and the singing is stellar. A great deal of attention has gone into world-building and costuming, and Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande clearly give their all.
Standout moments include Erivo’s performance of ‘No Good Deed’ and the pair’s final duet, ‘For Good’. In these scenes, the set design, music and acting come together to strengthen the narrative, heightening emotion and progressing the story in the way a musical should.
However, the film’s tone occasionally misses the mark, resulting in moments of emotional whiplash. This is most apparent in the scene immediately following the murder of Elphaba’s sister, when a goofy fistfight with Glinda is followed by her boyfriend being arrested and subsequently beaten to death.
In moments like these, the humour feels misplaced and the darker themes overly intense. Even so, for fans, Wicked: For Good remains a must-see; especially for suppressed princesses and Oz aficionados alike. And for those not in the loop: where have you been?
