Musicals have never been my favorite genre; I've always struggled to understand why actors must communicate through music. That said, some manage to win me over with their compelling storylines. Despite its glowing ratings of 8.2/10 on IMDb and 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, Wicked Part 1 left me wondering what all the hype was about. It wasn't terrible, but it didn't strike me as spectacular either.
Wicked serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, offering a fresh take on the origins of Elphaba (the Green Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch). It delves into how their lives intertwined, the events that shaped their paths, and the journey that led Elphaba to be labeled as "wicked."
The storyline was quite compelling and emotionally charged, particularly in the portrayal of Elphaba and Glinda's unlikely friendship, which was clearly felt throughout the film. The use of music was effective in reinforcing this theme. However, in my opinion, the music was a bit overdone. Nearly every scene featured a song or dialogue sung, which, even for a musical, felt excessive and at times, a bit irritating. That said, I did enjoy Ariana's song Popular—it was cleverly integrated into the scene and felt very appropriate.
As the film approached its conclusion, I was expecting more clarity on why Elphaba became "wicked," but that explanation seemed underdeveloped. Her reasons felt somewhat underwhelming, and there wasn't enough build-up to fully justify her transformation into the Wicked Witch. I'm looking forward to Part 2 in 2025, hoping that this aspect is explored further. Perhaps the filmmakers left it intentionally vague as a cliffhanger.
One pleasant surprise was how humorous the film turned out to be. Ariana Grande's portrayal of Glinda stood out as especially funny, and it paired perfectly with Cynthia Erivo's ability to bring out Elphaba's sarcasm.
On a technical note, the cinematography could have been better. Although the film is in 3D, which suits a magical story like this, there were moments when the 3D effects didn't quite deliver. The dark scenes were particularly hard to follow, as the lighting was poorly executed. I left the cinema with slightly strained eyes, which was a bit of a downside. Even so, the use of camera angles was effective in emphasizing key moments, especially when Elphaba began to confidently use her powers. Overall, while the cinematography wasn't perfect, the strong performances from the cast helped make up for it.
If you're a fan of magical worlds and powerful friendships, this is a movie you won't want to miss.
KenyaBuzz is grateful to Century Cinemax for access to the movie for this review.
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Mon. 13th May, 2019 at 8:29AM