"Given its already record-breaking box office, the same appears likely to hold true for the less marvelous second half of director Jon M. Chu's behemoth adaptation of the Broadway musical. Even after a year-long intermission, anyone whose jaw hung open during the final moments of " Wicked: Part 1," as Cynthia Erivo obliterates "Defying Gravity" while tearing through the night sky, would have to be insane (or dead) not to return."
"Unfortunately, the laws of physics are back in effect, and the second film is a letdown. How could it not be? The kids are grown up and the fun and games are over. There are only a couple of bangers left in Stephen Schwartz's original score by the musical's second act, which races to connect the narrative dots to "The Wizard of Oz.""
Jeff Goldblum's character claims that once people believe in something, they will keep believing. The film's box-office success suggests audiences will return despite sequel weaknesses. The second half of Jon M. Chu's adaptation lacks the wonder of Part 1 and feels like a letdown. The narrative rushes to connect to The Wizard of Oz while offering fewer standout songs from Stephen Schwartz's score. Additional screenplay material by Dana Fox and Winnie Holzman and a shorter runtime still leave the film scrambling between plot points and vamping to justify its existence. The film is not standalone and assumes familiarity with the prior film and The Wizard of Oz.
Read at The Washington Post
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