Wicked: Part 1 (2024) Review
By Sean M. Pertet
SPOILERS AHEAD !
Wicked Part One is a quirky musical that cleverly sews in comedy and drama. Directed by John.M. Chu, it follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) a green girl who is bullied and scorned for her differences in the fictional and magical Oz. Additionally she has natural magical gifts that make objects defy gravity. Following the obvious complications of her childhood she is the least favorite child as her younger sister is dotted on and treated with much more affection than she is It also doesn’t help that her mother passed away, resulting in her father hating our lime-colored protagonist even more.
Erivo’s character is sent to Shiz University where she is fated to stumble on the opportunity to study sorcery under the tutelage of Madam Morrible, (Michelle Yeoh) who mentors her. Promising an audience with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz ( Jeff Goldblum).
A green fish out of water Elphaba Thropp challenges social norms, juggles romance, rivalry and friendship. Taking on the Shiz’s queen bee, Galinda and somehow becoming best friends in the process. A bit cliché. Also cliché is her and the beloved Glinda ( Ariana Grande-Butera) her new best friend ,falling for the same boy. The dangerous, devilishly handsome Prince Fiyero( Jonathan Bailey from Bridgerton). I bet no one saw that coming.
Despite her wicked appearance, Elphaba takes every chance to show us that she has a strong moral compass. With Glinda by her side, she truly believes that there’s nothing in the world that they can’t face together. In that she is blatantly wrong.
The final act of the film leaves everyone betrayed. Most especially Glinda and Elphaba.. Ultimately, these two brilliant young women must take stances casting them into their melancholic roles as : Glinda the good witch of the North and Elphaba the wicked witch of the west. Forced once more to play the roles society sets on their shoulders.
One thing I did not like that much was that the music, as angelic as it was, predicted future events. Giving away plot details and robbing the award-winning film of any suspense. Many details of the film were hinted at in the musical numbers that were released for all to stream months before the film’s premier.
Another fatal flaw was that they didn’t accomplish their premise in one movie. What made loveable Elphaba wicked? I don’t think that’s something you need two films to tell.
Just as there were pitfalls the film had a few perks: One, the performances were enthralling to the very last sequence, saturated by an array emotion and hard work in the vocal industry that has earned it’s place in the forgettable history books.