The plot: Now demonized as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba lives in exile in the Ozian forest, while Glinda resides at the palace in Emerald City, reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, she’ll need to reunite with Glinda to transform herself, and all of Oz, for good.
This second wicked movie a mix bag.
Pros: The chemistry with Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo still works together when there on set and there core storyline. This one works as a conclusion to this storyline. I still like the look of emerald city from its production and set designs. Its high points are the performances. There were moments that were powerful & heart-wrenching & the ending was so heart-felt.
Cons: A lot of the songs didn’t standout to me. Twenty of the plot twists felt awkward & forced. The manged to drop the ball on key characters except from Elphaba & Galinda. The original characters felt like they were shoe-horned in. If you haven’t seen the first one you may find it difficult to follow this one.
Genre: Kids & Family, Musical, Fantasy, Adventure
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Produced by Marc Platt, David Stone
Screenplay by Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox
- Based on
Wicked
by- Stephen Schwartz
- Winnie Holzman
- Wicked
by Gregory Maguire
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Colman Domingo, Michelle Yeoh & Jeff Goldblum.
Edited by Myron Kerstein
Cinematography: Alice Brooks
Music by John Powell, Stephen Schwartz
Production companies: Universal Pictures, Marc Platt Productions
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Cast:
- Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, a misunderstood young woman born with green skin who is now known as the Wicked Witch of the West
- Ariana Grande[b] as Glinda Upland, a popular young woman who is now known as Glinda the Good
- Scarlett Spears as young Glinda
- Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, a Winkie prince who is now Captain of the Gale Force. He is later transformed into the Scarecrow by Elphaba.
- Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman, a Munchkin who now works as Nessarose’s servant. He is later transformed into the Tin Man by Elphaba.
- Bowen Yang as Pfannee, one of Glinda’s college friends who now works as one of her assistants
- Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, the former Dean of Sorcery at Shiz University, who is now the Press Secretary for the Wizard
- Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp, Elphaba’s paraplegic younger half-sister who is now the Governor of Munchkinland[19]
- Colman Domingo as the voice of the Cowardly Lion, a talking Lion who was saved by Fiyero and Elphaba in the first film as a cub and later befriends Dorothy Gale.
- Omari Bernard was the movement artist for the Lion.
- Bronwyn James as ShenShen, a college friend of Glinda who now works as one of her assistants
- Aaron Teoh as Avaric, Boq’s friend and another one of Nessarose’s servants
- Bethany Weaver as Dorothy Gale, a Kansas female farmer who is accidentally brought to Oz with her dog, Toto, by a tornado. Though the character is given a more prominent role compared to the second act of the stage musical, her face is not directly seen so as to keep Glinda and Elphaba as the film’s main focuses, with the exception for a brief shot when Glinda sees her passing through the door’s crack.
- Sharon D. Clarke as the voice of Dulcibear, a talking Brown Bear and Elphaba and Nessarose’s former childhood nanny who is among those departing the Land of Oz
- Madeline Wilson was the movement artist for Dulcibear
- Dee Bradley Baker as the voice of Chistery, the leader of the winged monkeys
- Robin Guiver was the movement artist for Chistery
Additionally, Keala Settle, Luisa Guerreiro, Adam James and Alice Fearn reprise their roles from the first film as Miss Coddle, Dr. Dillamond’s movement artist, and Glinda’s parents, respectively.
I still recommend watching this one to those who saw the first one.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident film reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe