"When we last left Chu's splashy, long-awaited adaptation of the Broadway musical juggernaut, green emo outcast Elphaba, soon to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo), had been radicalized by the discovery that the revered Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) is a magicless fraud and oppressor of animals; she thus committed to defying gravity and becoming a broomstick-riding outlaw. Her polar-opposite enemy-turned-bestie Glinda (Ariana Grande) declined to take up the cause but wished Elphaba well."
"First, however, it starts off with a bang: The exciting opening sequence touches down upon the vast open landscape outside the metropolis of Oz, as the Wizard's human lackeys are forcing animals to do the brutal labor of building his precious yellow brick road; suddenly, Elphaba appears out of the sky like a superhero and wields her mighty powers to disrupt the abuse and send a message."
Wicked: For Good adapts the musical's second act and continues Elphaba's arc after she discovers the Wizard's cruelty and becomes an outlaw. Elphaba confronts animal oppression and vows defiance while Glinda remains apart yet supportive. The film opens with a striking sequence of Elphaba disrupting forced animal labor on the yellow brick road. The production spans two films totaling about five hours, and the pacing often feels padded to justify the bifurcation. Strong performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande anchor the film despite structural and runtime concerns.
Read at www.npr.org
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