IR Film Review: WICKED - FOR GOOD [Universal]
The essence of "Wicked" is the beauty and darkness of what we see behind the scenes of "The Wizard Of Oz". While the first "Wicked" was more about bright colors and drawing the younger audience in, "Wicked: For Good" is the more dynamic of the two. This is simply becomes the fact that despite anything, this is a story of platonic love between two women but how heartbreak can and does happen. While their approaches might differ, they see certain aspects of the other that make them better people and worse. It becomes not about the power or admiration or even the attentions of a certain soldier. In this second film, we see the better parts of the other. The strength of Elphaba and the vulnerability of Glinda. What is great is that towards the end, "For Good" provides a stand alone song for each character bathed each in that idea plus a final coda that really puts the bow on. This one is a musical but less musical than it is drama.
The stars of everything are the two women though the essence of the Tin Man and The Scarecrow whoever they may end up being is really cool because it is doesn't completely spell it out and yet shows the stakes and the heartbreak no matter who Dorothy ends up being. There are plot holes and reasoning but in this instance it makes so much more sense to fill in the blanks as an audience member. The folly of the Wizard is on full display and Jeff Goldblum leans into it. He is a con man and he says as much but the essence of his darkness is only hinted at and yet point to in a dungeon scene. Michelle Yeoh's Mistress has less to do here and her motivations are the only ones that aren't fully formed. In the last "Wicked," it was really the final shot that gave one a sense of what was to come. The journey here, because of what the first one did (though it is the lesser of the two) makes it seem a lot more earned. Jonathan Bailey does his job admirably and like usually with the double standard, he just wants to be heard.
The adultness of the material pushes it to the edge since this is obviously a film that younger girls (and some boys) will see as well but its themes tend to play more adult. To give away more of how it works would lessen its impact but this is a film that should be seen in the theater for sure. The sweeping camera moves are much more apparent. The Ariana solo music scene in the second into third act switching in and out of mirrors is beautifully done and realized and yet very sad. Her Glinda doesn't usually break down in that way and Grande goes as far as she can. Cynthia Ervo with her ode to darkness hits the very same spot on the reverse but it works because of an interaction she has with her animal friends just before where she begins to truly understand her role. That again makes the ending feel earned. It is about what we don't see and what we do see as well as the perspective. Jon M. Chu delivers on what he promised but still brought the edge. Whether it has legs to bring in and turn away certain audiences expecting the first is unknown. The darkness especially involving the house, the tornado that brought Dorothy to Kansas and even , Elphaba's response in the instant it happens and the importance of the shoes is nicely realized. But it is how Elphaba and her legacy reflects how Glinda The Good must exist that give the story its lingering impact. A-
By Tim Wassberg
