Released 12 months after Wicked, Wicked: For Good concludes the film adaptation of the stage musical that tells the backstory of The Wizard of Oz’s witches. Source: Australian Catholics.
The film adaptation was split into two parts to accommodate the story’s scope and to further develop the film’s characters without compromising the story that director John M. Chu wanted to tell.
It is a tough ask for viewers of Wicked: For Good to wait 12 months for the film’s conclusion, which has a darker tone than Wicked.
The film follows Elphaba (Erivo) and Glinda (Grande) who embrace their new identities as the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good.
Elphaba continues her fight for animal rights and Glinda becomes a figure closely watched by the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Yeoh), a former Dean of Sorcery, who works for the Wizard.
New songs have been added, and the film’s fantasy tone is delivered opulently.
Both lead actresses have an impressive vocal range and show a gift for physical comedy, while Jonathan Bailey significantly expands his original role as Prince Fiyero.
The best song of the franchise, however, Defying Gravity, concludes Wicked and none of the songs in Wicked: For Good can match its impact.
The problem for first film was that weighty themes such as social injustice and racism awaited further development. The concluding film does take them further, but not appreciably so.
Goodness is integrated into For Good’s fantasy plot, but themes like racism and injustice lose out to the movie’s broad-based musical appeal.
Nostalgic memories of The Wizard of Oz, and lighter themes, such as friendship lie at the heart of this movie, but it has been too long a wait since part 1 for an integrated film to appear as a dramatic whole.
Review by Peter Sheehan, Jesuit Media
Wicked: For Good: Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh and Ethan Slater. Directed by Jon M. Chu. Rated PG. (General Advice for Wicked: Mild fantasy and violence, some scenes may scare young children). 138 min.
FULL REVIEW
Wicked: For Good (Australian Catholics)
