The plot: Misunderstood because of her green skin, a young woman named Elphaba forges an unlikely but profound friendship with Glinda, a student with an unflinching desire for popularity. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths.
Wicked Part 1 was Surprisingly Good.
Pros: The architecture on emerald city looks quite good. I like how its setup the origins for Wicked Witch of the West & Glinda the Good. All of the songs were lovely to listen too. The performances were the high point of this film, and I was surprisingly disturbed how those monkeys get their wings.
Cons: Those who are not into musicals as a genre you might not like this film at all. At times this film can get a bit camp and silly. And I hate how It ends dramatically leading up for a part 2.
Genre: Kids & Family, Musical, Fantasy, Adventure
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Produced by Marc Platt, David Stone
Written by Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox
Based on
Wicked
by
- Stephen Schwartz
- Winnie Holzman
- Wicked
by Gregory Maguire
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande-Butera, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh & Jeff Goldblum.
Cinematography: Alice Brooks
Edited by Myron Kerstein
Music by John Powell (score), Stephen Schwartz (score and songs)
Production companies: Universal Pictures, Marc Platt Productions
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
The Casts:
- Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, a misunderstood young woman born with green skin who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West
- Karis Musongole as young Elphaba
- Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland, a popular young woman who becomes Glinda the Good
- Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, a prince from Winkie Country who meets Elphaba and Glinda at school
- Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman, a Munchkin in love with Glinda
- Bowen Yang as Pfannee, one of Glinda’s college friends
- Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp, Elphaba’s paraplegic younger sister
- Cesily Collette Taylor as young Nessarose
- Peter Dinklage as the voice of Dr. Dillamond, a talking Goat and history professor at Shiz University that befriends Elphaba
- Luisa Guerrerio was the movement artist for Dr. Dillamond
- Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, the Dean of Sorcery at Shiz University
- Jeff Goldblum as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- Bronwyn James as Shenshen, another of Galinda’s college friends
- Andy Nyman as Governor Thropp, Elphaba and Nessarose’s father and the Governor of Munchkinland
- Courtney-Mae Briggs as Mrs. Thropp, Elphaba and Nessarose’s mother, who dies after giving birth to Nessarose
- Keala Settle as Miss Coddle, the headmistress of Shiz University
- Aaron Teoh as Avaric, Fiyero’s friend
- Sharon D. Clarke as the voice of Dulcibear, a talking Bear who helps deliver Elphaba during her birth and acts as a nanny to the Thropp family
- Madeline Wilson was the movement artist for Dulcibear
- Jenna Boyd as the voice of Wolf Doctor, who helps deliver Elphaba during her birth
- Sarah Mardel was the movement artist for Wolf Doctor
- Colin Michael Carmichael as Professor Nikidik, a professor at Shiz University
Additionally, the Cowardly Lion makes an appearance as a cub. Dorothy Gale, a Kansas farm girl who is transported to the Land of Oz by a tornado with her dog Toto, is featured alongside the Scarecrow, Tin Man and an adult version of the Cowardly Lion in a brief cameo early in the film. Robin Guiver performs the role of Chistery, the leader of the Wizard’s monkey army and Elphaba’s favorite winged monkey. Stephen Stanton voices Fiyero’s Horse.
Multiple cameos take place during the “One Short Day” sequence. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in the stage musical, portray the leading members of the Emerald City Players. Former Fiyero understudy, Michael McCorry Rose, appears as the Wiz-O-Mania Narrator. Book writer and screenwriter Winnie Holzman exclaims, “He can read it [the Grimmerie]! He must be a Wizard!” in a cameo during Wiz-O-Mania, and composer Stephen Schwartz cameos as the Emerald City Guard, who announces to Elphaba and Glinda that “the wizard will see you now”. Adam James and Alice Fearn appear briefly as Galinda’s parents, nicknamed “Popsicle” and “Momsie” by Galinda. Shaun Prendergast appears as Shiz President and Cherida Strallen as the Shiz Librarian.
Various notable West End actors also make cameo appearances in the film, including Kerry Ellis, Luke Bayer, Georgina Onuorah, and Dianne Pilkington.
I recommend watching this film in cinemas.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident film reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe