I Couldn’t Be Happier With ‘Wicked: For Good’
Wicked will always have a special place in my heart, as it has influenced my life in major ways, not once, but twice. The first time corresponded with graduating from university, where my mother’s gift was two tickets to the touring production of Wicked. While I may have grown up in musicals, I had yet to see a Broadway production by that point in my life, with the Stephen Schwartz stage production serving as that first hit that left my thirst for theater unquenchable. Fast forward more than a decade, and it was because of Wicked that BSB has come to be, as it was the first touring show we saw together and laid the foundation for this site. So it was a full circle moment to sit in a packed theater with other eager audience members, counting down the clock ticks until Wicked: For Good started.
Those of us who have appreciated Broadway production for quite a long time knew that Universal had an insurmountable job ahead of them, splitting their Wicked cinematic adaptation into two parts. For many people, myself included, Wicked’s first act is most definitely the stronger of the acts, with so many of the songs and scenes that audiences talk about existing before intermission. That isn’t to say that Act 2 doesn’t have its moments, but Wicked features a tonal shift that made the idea of two separate movies feel odd, if not downright bad.
Although some of the fear was squashed after that initial announcement, once Wicked Part 1 arrived in theaters and John M. Chu’s vision became clear. With such an expansive story about the witches of Oz, there’s no possible way to contain it to one film without losing some context or integrity. However, does Wicked: For Good hold up comparatively to its predecessor? The short answer is yes: For Good does reach a satisfying conclusion, although perhaps there are some caveats to that.
[Waring: Spoilers from Wicked: For Good are below!]
Return to Oz in Wicked: For Good
While it has only been a year since the first film arrived in theaters, it’s been four years since Elphaba declared war on The Wizard and all those wicked people throughout Oz, and it hasn’t been easy. There’s a clear line drawn in the sand, with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) standing on one side, vowing to bring down anyone who gets in her way of exposing The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) for who he really is, and Glinda (Ariana Grande) on the other, being a part of the system she’s dreamed of being a part of ever since she was a young girl.
There are those who may believe that Glinda is having it easy in her bubble on top of the Emerald City, but Wicked: For Good begins by showing that neither party is exactly having a good time. Elphaba continues to attack those working for The Wizard, from slowing the progress of the yellow brick road to freeing the enslaved animals, who are slowly losing their ability to speak. She’s tired, but relentless in her pursuit of truth, justice, and the Ozian way.
Glinda, on the other hand, truly believes she can do good within the corrupt system, which is something many of us wish for. She wants to see change, but she also gets distracted by the colorful world she resides. As she states in the film, who could resist it, which is a sentiment that many people can probably relate to. It’s easy to get swept up in the fantastical aspects of life, often forgetting about those people and causes struggling day after day.
However, it’s never far from her mind, seen in moments where her mask slips and she’s no longer able to hide the plastered-on smile she hopes is fooling everyone. She has the perfect life, with her dreamy fiancé Fiyero (Johnathan Bailey), and living in a palace, what more could she hope for?
It’s the relationship between these two witches that continues to propel Wicked: For Good’s narrative. Even though they are diametrically opposed in their approaches to solving the problem, both Elphaba and Glinda share an unspoken love and an unbreakable bond. When Elphaba decides to confront The Wizard once again, she flies onto Glinda’s balcony in a scene ripped from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It’s the first time they’ve seen each other in years, and it’s like they’ve never left each other’s side.
In fact, it’s because of Glinda, who’s added into the musical number of “Wonderful,” that Elphaba even wavers in her vendetta. Being welcomed back into the fold by the person whom you love the most is the biggest temptation of all, and for a moment, it works. However, the truth never wanders too far from the Wicked Witch’s mind, and with a gentle reminder, she continues on her crusade.
Fans of the Broadway musical know how Wicked: For Good ends, albeit the movie does make some changes in the final moments from the stage show it’s based on. That being said, those who haven’t seen the show have to witness the conclusion to this epic Ozian tale for themselves. Have Glinda and Elphaba been changed for good? Can Oz be saved from itself? And will the world ever see Elphaba for anything other than wicked?
This musical adaptation from Universal paves its own way
For the most part, Wicked: For Good stays true to its source material, namely the stage production rather than the book by Gregory Maguire. All the important beats from Act 2 are present, as expected. If Universal veers too far off course from the Broadway musical, audiences might revolt against what is shaping up to be this award season’s darling.
Instead, to set itself apart, Wicked: For Good expands on some of the narrative threads introduced in the first part, providing a more cohesive story than the stage show. In the Broadway hit, Act 2 essentially drops Elphaba’s animal welfare storyline to shoehorn in Dorothy’s arrival and journey through Oz. That’s still a major part of For Good, however, Chu and the writers took time to remind audiences what’s truly at stake if Elphaba gives up her fight.
This choice is not only welcome but essential to building a more developed Oz and a stronger story overall. The Elphie we’ve come to know and love during the first film wouldn’t stop fighting for those who no longer have a voice (literally) in pursuit of her sister’s shoes. By adding in scenes, such as when she begs the animals to stay in Oz and continue fighting alongside her, we’re reminded that, regardless of what happens in our personal lives, some causes are worth fighting for.
For Good also gives Glinda not only a backstory but more depth than her stage counterpart. No longer does she feel like she’s playing second fiddle to Elphaba, but instead is the main character of part 2. No longer is she relegated to just the girl in the bubble; instead, she is front and center in a narrative that is just her own.
What I love about the separation of Wicked Part One and Wicked: For Good is that it allowed for specific narratives to develop: the first film is about Elphaba growing to meet a challenge, while For Good is about Glinda’s growth in the aftermath. While the latter’s journey ends up much darker than Elphaba’s, the narrative itself feels more rewarding because Glinda had much farther to ascend, truly becoming Glinda the Good.
However, not every change felt necessary or fit well into the film, with my biggest grievances being the two original songs made for Wicked: For Good. Act 2 is naturally darker in tone, with many of the songs already reflecting that. The film features more ballads than not, and both “No Place Like Home” and “Girl in the Bubble” only served to slow the pacing down even more, when perhaps For Good could have used a few numbers to pick it up. While Wicked: For Good is shorter than Part 1, it feels incrementally longer, which is one of the film’s biggest drawbacks.
Wicked: For Good is worth the journey
Despite the pacing issues, Wicked: For Good is still essential viewing for those who have seen the first film, lovers of The Wizard of Oz, and, of course, theater-goers. The story comes to a proper conclusion, leaving hints of a world that audiences may eventually return to, and genuinely left me feeling like I myself want to be changed for good as well. Did Wicked: For Good leave an imprint on my heart as much as the first film? No, but that same applies to the second act of the stage show. Instead, For Good attempts to correct the issues of the stage production and add more narrative that both complements and expands these two witches of Oz.
In short, Wicked: For Good isn’t a perfect film; however, exactly what I wanted and more. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande embody these characters with such enthusiasm and care that you can’t help by become overwhelmed with emotion and get drawn into the film just from their acting. These two actresses not only give career-defining performances but also make Wicked: For Good a must-see film, meaning I couldn’t be happier with finally seeing this story come to a close on the big screen.
Wicked: For Good is currently in theaters! Have you seen it yet? What are your thoughts on the film? Let us know @BoxSeatBabes on all social media platforms!
Wicked: For Good | The BSB Podcast
