Having a 21-year and $1.6 billion (and counting) run on Broadway signals it’s only a matter of time before Hollywood comes knocking. That time is now for Wicked, the unofficial prequel to The Wizard of Oz. Helmed by Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights director Jon M. Chu, it’s split into two parts for the film adaptation.
The first entry, Wicked: Part I, follows young witches Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda (Ariana Grande) as they begin an unlikely connection during their time at Shiz University and on their way to becoming critical figures in Oz lore. Being tied to an iconic stage play and film sets a nearly impossible bar for anything based on that pedigree of source material. Well, impossible means nothing to Erivo, Grande, and Chu because they push Wicked: Part I to heights even the biggest Oz lover couldn’t imagine.
Erivo is the perfect Elphaba. She plays her with an assurance that exudes confidence and intelligence. It makes the character stand out as a true heroine and apart from what her future holds. Yet, there’s a vulnerability that shows up when she’s on the wrong side of the Shiz culture and emphasizes the human under her green skin. That same balancing act plays out when Erivo showcases her elite singing in songs through the lamenting notes of “I’m Not That Girl” and the goosebump-inducing powerhouse “Gravity.”
Grande’s turn as Galinda is also an ideal match. Her performance hangs its fang on her well-known comedic chops from her Nickelodeon days and Saturday Night Live appearances, but Grande also shows some range as she stretches Galinda beyond mere comic relief. She shines as she sets up some of the film’s more affecting scenes with either a clueless self-righteousness reminiscent of The Color Purple’s Miss Millie or nastiness similar to Mean Girls’s Regina George. But like Erivo with Elphaba, Grande nails those vulnerable moments that move you to view them in an empathetic light.
Chu’s first time directing a Broadway adaptation, In the Heights, was impressive, but he relied heavily on the visuals. With Wicked: Part I, his flair for visuals is still present with the colorful sets, flashy costumes, and an inclusive group of actors where people from all walks of life can see themselves. However, Chu focuses more on his storytelling in this one.
The first and most prominent sign of Chu’s commitment to the narrative in Wicked: Part I was his casting of Erivo as Elphaba. Off talent alone, she deserved the role. However, her selection as Elphaba has a more profound significance because Erivo is one of the rare black women ever to portray Elphaba in a major Wicked production. So, at times, if not the entire movie, you see the film's events happening to someone you see every day or know instead of a fictional green entity, which makes the themes of Wicked more timely and powerful.
Another sign of Chu’s improved storytelling for Wicked: Part I is his faithfulness to the source material. Chu does take some liberties in expanding the world of Wicked via deep diving into Elphaba’s early life and expanding some of her interactions with other characters to fill the 160-minute runtime. Still, he finds a way to keep the film within the confines of the play’s first act and moving at a pace that makes the runtime feel nonexistent.
In a time where Broadway adaptions have been hit and miss, Wicked: Part I knocks it out of the park on its way to being arguably one of the best films of the year and one of the best Broadway adaptations ever. Erivo and Grande should, without question, get awards season love for best actress and best supporting actress respectively, and Chu should easily be among the names for best director (consideration for best adapted screenplay for Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox would be nice too). Aside from the prologue, Wicked: Part I is an excellent watch for all over the age of 5 and you can skip the premium formats for this one.
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