Twenty years ago, the Broadway musical, Wicked, took the world by storm as Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowith gave audiences the backstory to the witches Elphaba and Glinda of Oz (respectively). While I never saw the play nor indulged in its soundtrack, its existence always seemed to follow me like a shadow that I had no interest in acknowledging. Appreciating showtunes as a teenager was a social death sentence (especially at an all-guys school). But now as a grown man (supposedly), I can cast aside any social anxiety related to acknowledging the merits of a musical, and I can unequivocally endorse Wicked: Part I by saying it is worth every penny for the ticket and must be seen on the big screen.
Having never seen the original musical, I cannot be quoted as an authority as to whether this adaptation does justice to its original medium, but I can say that it is worthy of being hailed for its cinematic form. The performances are stellar, no doubt, being led by Cynthia Erivo, as Elphaba, and Arianna Grande, as Glinda. Peppered throughout the cast are legends of the stage, in addition to big names such as Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage, and Jeff Goldblum.
My first area of focus for an adaptation of a musical is the music, of course. I finally heard “Popular” and was able to experience “Defying Gravity”, along with the top-notch sound effects (amplified by surround sound in a movie theater). While your ears are indulged, your eyes will also be excited through exceptional cinematography and special effects. It was worthy of action-movie production value, and they knocked everything out of the park.
Again, if this movie is available for streaming, I suggest the viewer use it as a last resort. Experiencing this on the big screen is a necessity, and it is well worth the trip out of the comfort of one’s home. Removing the possibility of pausing or rewinding forces the audience to fully absorb oneself in the movie and removes the temptations to step away and potentially let it slip away into memory.
The City of Cinema 