Before the Wizard, before the Yellow Brick Road, there was a world of magic, mystery, and misunderstood witches.
Wicked, based off the hugely popular Broadway show, transported us to the enchanting realm of OZ almost a year ago, a place where good and evil intertwine, and the true story of the Witches of Oz unfolds. In Wicked for Good, this huge production comes to a very satisfying close.
For those not in the know already (how!), Wicked has reigned as one of the most beloved stories in modern musical theatre. It’s a vibrant, revisionist fairy tale that flips the script on good and evil. The anticipation for its transfer to the screen has been immense, and after the first, glorious chapter set the stage, the curtain finally rises on the conclusion: Wicked For Good.
Stepping back into Oz on the big screen is an undeniable spectacle; the colours are more vivid, the sky is more immense, and the emotional stakes are magnified tenfold, making every note and every moment feel truly monumental.
We were left on a precipice in Part One, with Elphaba defying the Wizard and embracing her destiny, taking flight as the Wicked Witch of the West.
For Good picks up with the reckoning we’ve been waiting for, focusing on how Elphaba and Glinda’s paths define the future of Oz, and crucially, how their unshakeable bond survives the tempest of public opinion and manufactured tyranny.
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba continues to be a sheer force of nature. Her vocal power and emotional depth are perfectly suited to the screen, turning “No Good Deed” into a defiant anthem of isolation and misunderstood greatness.
Opposite her, Ariana Grande continues her evolution as Glinda, moving from the bubble-headed glamour of the first film to the complex, painful decisions of a woman choosing between friendship and politics.
Their combative chemistry and ultimate reconciliation are the emotional bedrock of the film, beautifully executed by director Jon M. Chu.
The visual scale is as breathtaking as the first film, and it would be remiss of me not to mention how beautifully grand the practical sets and locations are.
The Emerald City gleams with a corrupted beauty, the landscapes of Oz are vast and dangerous, and the confrontation with the Wizard is appropriately grand (and one of the most-fun songs of the film). Ultimately, the film excels in its quiet moments, particularly in the songs that brings the two stars together.
While the choreography and songs never quite reach the first films peaks, it’s still a very thoughtfully put together film.
Wicked For Good is a powerful, cathartic, and emotionally satisfying conclusion that respects the legacy and fandom of the original musical while securing its own place as a landmark piece of cinematic magic.
Don’t miss out seeing it on the big screen!
– The Plus Ones
