“Are we all born wicked?” It’s a trick question. The answer you give reflects your view of humanity. In fact, that query is the theme of this charming and fanciful adaption of the Broadway musical “Wicked” (2003). That show was based on a novel by Gregory Maguire (1995), which was inspired by L. Frank Baum’s book “The Wizard of Oz” (1900), which spawned the classic family movie “The Wizard of Oz” (1939). In the earlier two works, a young girl from Kansas meets two witches: Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. The more recent works reconstruct the witches’ backstory. The characters are so iconic and vibrant in this witches’ brew that all these filmmakers need to do is just tell the story. But they’re far more ambitious than that.
Casting Ariana Grande as the dismissive, dimwitted and wealthy Glinda Upland works to the film’s advantage. She’s funny and sarcastic as the very popular blonde. Her perfect counter balance is the exceedingly green Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. Often ostracized, but very intelligent, she has quick retorts to any derogatory remarks hurled her way. The two disparate souls meet on their first day at Shiz University in the fantastical land of Oz.
They’ll be studying magic and spellcasting.
Glinda holds court and is admired by other students. Some make fun of Elphaba, who bristles. Glinda joins in the derision. “It seems the artichoke is steamed!” For a while, the spoiled brat reigns supreme. After Elphaba comes under the guidance of Shiz University’s regal headmistress and Dean of Sorcery Studies, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), the green girl becomes the envied power broker.
Each will become a witch. Their destinies play out over 160 entertaining minutes as directed by Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “In the Heights”), who makes everything on view a joy to watch. A spectacle. Not in a bombastic way (e.g. Baz Luhrmann’s “Moulin Rouge”). More like the animated and colorful dreamworld of a “Harry Potter” movie. Hard for kids and families to take their eyes off the screen. Real hard. Credit Chu and his brilliant tech team.
Cinematographer Alice Brooks (“In the Heights”) lights and catches the enchanting visuals like she’s painting a storybook. Sets and props—dorm rooms, Wizard of Oz’s chambers, the train that takes the two witches to meet the Wizard—contribute to the fairytale feel, courtesy of production designer extraordinaire Nathan Crowley (“The Dark Knight”). Erivo, Grande and the rest of the cast’s cartoonish look are augmented by costume designer Paul Tazewell’s (“Hamilton”) quirky clothes. And editor Myron Kerstein (“In the Heights”) cuts scenes so tight, time whizzes by, except for a few song/dance routines. Some songs are catchy and others not (music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz).
Chu masterfully develops the script (screenwriter Winnie Holzman from the Broadway show) into a lively fantasyland. He stages the energized characters well as they dance in perfect sync (choreographer Christopher Scott’s, “In the Heights”). Action scenes with flying menacing monkeys and weapon-carrying soldiers attacking Elphaba are thrilling, but not enough to scare kids. As the film progresses from school to a rendezvous with the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and a perilous climax, Chu whips the joy, fear and courage into a frenzy.
