“Pink goes well with green.”
I am not talking about a flower or a fruit, only of course the smash box office hit, “Wicked.” The movie, released on Nov. 22, has earned $262.4 million in its first five days and stars Ariana Grande-Butera as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.
Other actors include Ethan Slater as Boq, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible. This star-studded cast came together to create a flawless movie that has already earned its spot among fans as a classic movie musical.
“Wicked” began as a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire and was transformed into the well-known Broadway musical in 2003. Since that fateful October day, there have been near-daily performances ever since. Because of its popularity, the musical later found its way to the big screen, directed by Jon Chu, best known for his work on “Crazy Rich Asians.”
The movie was split into two parts, telling the story of each act in the Broadway version. Part one predominantly tells the story of how Glinda and Elphaba met at Shiz University, their school, and the fateful friendship that came about. The movie ends after Elphaba sings the renowned song, “Defying Gravity,” and takes off into the skies, setting the movie up perfectly for its sequel. “Wicked” part two is set to be released Nov. 21, 2025.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Although many fans were skeptical about Grande’s acting and musical theatre skills, she surpassed everyone’s expectations by a long shot. As I watched the movie, her superstar persona melted away and she put on a performance that was simply Glinda. Between her operatic vocals, hilarious wit, and incredible dancing, she had audiences clapping and laughing with every scene.
Grande’s onscreen chemistry with Cynthia Erivo shone through as well. The two were the perfect choices for these roles. Their acting was genuine, heartfelt, and left audience members with tears in their eyes over their stunning performance.
“No, I’m not seasick; no, I didn’t eat grass as a child; and yes, I’ve always been green.”
Erivo held her own as Elphaba. She poured every last drop of her soul into her role. From her fresh and incredibly impressive takes on decades-old songs to her authentic acting, she truly became the star of the show.
“You’re the one the Wizard has been waiting for.”
All the way down to the set design and chorus, choreography, and CGI, everything was impeccable. Giant villages and castles were actually built. Fields of tulip flowers were actually planted. So much love and care was put into the movie and it showed. With an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 96% on the popcornmeter, “Wicked” absolutely deserves every bit of the commotion it has received.
This PG movie is playing in theaters now. If you find yourself with some downtime, I highly recommend grabbing friends and family members and spending a couple of hours at the movies. This is a movie you will not want to miss.
