The long awaited sequel “Wicked: For Good” hit the big screen on Nov. 21. While the film delivers plenty of heartfelt songs and impressive costume designs, it doesn’t always escape the shadow of the first movie.
The sequel picks up where the first film left off, at the beginning of Act 2. The movie focuses on Elphaba’s determination to reveal to Ozian citizens that the wizard has no real power as shown in Act 1. The magical settings of the Emerald City castle, the Wizard’s throne room and Elphaba’s forest hiding place are intricate making it an immersive experience for viewers.
The film succeeds in the musical aspects, arguably one of the most important parts when adapting a Broadway musical. Songs like “March of the Witch Hunters” and “No Good Deed” showcase the cast’s powerful vocals and the character’s unique emotional arcs. While the first movie left me amazed in my seat with “Defying Gravity”, Ethan Slater’s emotionally powerful solo in “March of the Witch Hunters” left me speechless.
One of the best parts was the emphasis on Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship through powerful songs. The song, “For Good” showcased this through an emotional and dramatic duet. The song also demonstrates a contrast compared to Wicked Act 1’s powerful duet ballad, “Defying Gravity” where the characters showed resentment towards each other rather than affection and appreciation.
The film’s strongest asset was the attention to detail on costumes. Glinda’s new pink-and-blue gown, layered with crystal beading, instantly takes over as her new iconic dress. The Tin Man and Lion costume designs were also surprisingly realistic since CGI wasn’t used on any of the costumes.
Although the movie had beautiful settings and vocals, every movie does have its flaws. The movie’s lesson was powerful but repetitive. They used the words ‘wicked’ and ‘for good’ frequently. So while the lesson was impactful and set a nice tone, it was very obvious that Glinda and Elphaba had been changed for the better. The first movie focused on how Elphaba originally became “wicked” meaning that the story had not started focusing on the characters’ arcs and triumphs yet. Therefore it made the first movie less repetitive and more of an implied lesson rather than the second movie where the themes and lessons were repeatedly spelled out.
Despite its flaws, “Wicked: For Good” succeeds where it matters most, making the world of Oz come alive and providing a layered and emotional story that viewers can laugh and cry at. Although the sequel may not be as impactful as the first movie, it is a good continuation of the well-loved story that will leave viewers changed “for good”.
