“Wicked”, directed by Jon M. Chu, just came out on November 22nd, 2024, after a three-year production, and everyone’s talking about it.  We have all seen the trailers and clips of interviews for “Wicked” with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo clutching hands and complimenting each other as though they are in love — wearing the colors of their respective characters, Grande in baby pink, with highlighted cheekbones and lips glossed, and Erivo adorned in emerald greens and with a bejeweled claw-like manicure. Wicked is nearly as promoted as the Barbie movie and Oppenheimer were in summer 2023. More than 400 brands teamed together to help market the film. These brands include Starbucks, which has themed cups merchandise as well as drinks called Glinda’s Pink Potion and Elphaba’s Cold Brew, Target, with a full Wicked collection, and even Crocs.

The film is jam packed with winks to “The Wizard of Oz” with its references and explanations. “Wicked” is inspired by the book “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire a fictional biography of the Wicked Witch of the West “Elphaba”, and the Broadway musical adaption of it. The Wicked Witch of the West is the antagonist in the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz”.

The Wizard of Oz Synopsis

            “The Wizard of Oz” follows a young girl Dorothy who lives in Kansas and gets knocked unconscious during a tornado. The tornado then moves the house to the land of Oz where Dorothy meets Glinda, the good witch who explains what happened to Dorothy. Dorothy’s house landed on the Wicked Witch of the East. Her sister, the Wicked Witch of the West seeks to get her ruby slippers, but Glinda gives them to Dorothy before she can get them. The Wicked Witch of the West angry swears vengeance on Dorothy. Glinda instructs Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to find Emerald City where the Wizard of Oz resides who can help her get home. Along the way she makes friends with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion who all also want to see the wizard. They all travel together, however not without the obstacles of the Wicked Witch of the West trying to stop them. Eventually, Dorothy splashes water onto the witch causing her to melt and die. Eventually, they meet the wizard, but Dorothy realizes the power to get home was in herself. She is then transported back to Kansas and wakes up in her bed and the movie ends with her recalling her dream.

Wicked Synopsis (Spoilers)

“Wicked” tells the story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the Wicked Witch of the West. “Wicked” could very well be a breakout role for the talented Cynthia Erivo, British actress and singer.

It starts with Galinda (aka Glinda the Good) celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch of the West in Munchkin land (“No One Mourns the Wicked”). When a munchkin questions Glinda (Ariana Grande) on her former friendship with the witch, she begins to tell the story of Elphaba. Elphaba was the product of an affair and was born green. Growing up she was neglected by her family due to her green skin. When Elphaba arrives at Shiz University to aid her sister Nessarose her father, the governor encourages her to keep a watchful eye on her.

Upon her arrival she is immediately pointed out as different and mocked due to her green skin.

In a spur of emotion, Elphaba reveals her powers and a professor, Mrs. Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) is impressed and offers to take her on as her apprentice. Elphaba is then hopeful as it is her dream to be recognized by the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and have her green skin changed (“The Wizard and I”).

Galinda is a wealthy well liked student at the school with a wardrobe of pink that takes up a whole presidential suite room. She is the epitome of privilege. Despite this, Grande makes her character likable as Galinda’s theatrics such as her exaggerated hair toss and her desperate need to impress the self-absorbed Prince Fiyero Tigelaar (Jonathan Bailey) add a sense of comedy to the character.

Galinda in attempts to get the attention of Mrs. Morrible, who she looks up to, accidentally agrees to be roommates with Elphaba. At first, they have a tumultuous relationship through petty acts of loathing (“What is This Feeling”), but eventually they become unlikely best friends, after Elphaba’s kind act allows Galinda to get into a magic class with Mrs. Morrible. Galinda even so graciously offers to give Elphaba a makeover (“Popular”).

Throughout the movie Elphaba shows kindness and empathy with acts like freeing a caged lion cub from being a subject of live experimentation, in a subplot about the Animals of Oz losing their humanity. Her powers also progress, and she is summoned by the Wizard to visit him in Emerald City. Before leaving as the train starts going, she invites Galinda — who changed her name to Glinda — to go with her.

At first, the two are fascinated by the whimsical nature of Emerald City. However, in a twist of events, Elphaba discovers she is being taken advantage of by the Wizard who isn’t who she dreamed he was, despite his false promises of prosperity and power, and she attempts to escape. This causes the Wizard and Mrs. Morrible to betray her and declare to all of Oz that she must be captured and that she’s a “wicked witch”.

Glinda runs after Elphaba when she escapes and attempts to get her to make amends with the Wizard and Mrs. Morrible, but Elphaba has other plans. Elphaba tries to persuade Glinda to leave with her in an emotional sisterly moment, but Glinda stays behind despite supporting Elphaba decision. Quickly after the guards reach them but Elphaba uses her magic to fly away on a broom stick, declaring that no one can bring her down and that she will head out west (“Defying Gravity”).

The film then concludes on the words “To be Continued…”, leaving the viewer anticipating more, as though they’ve reached the bottom of a bag of potato chips.

Music

The film includes songs from the Broadway production of “Wicked”, adding to the dimension of it and revealing the ambitions of the characters. Some of the most notable songs from the film are the duets between Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) such as “What is This Feeling”, “One Short Day” and “Defying Gravity”. Separately, Grande and Erivo have different types of voices, Grande with an exceptionally sweet and breathy soprano voice and Erivo with a smooth and decisive one, but together their voices compliment each other and almost morph into one through harmonies. Another notable song is “Popular” which is sang by Glinda when she vows to give Elphaba a glow-up. However, all the songs add to the magic of the film.

More than just Music

Despite being a musical, the film was richly layered with social commentary. This can be seen in themes like Elphaba being discriminated against because of her green skin, the corruption of people with power like the Wizard, and the scapegoating of Elphaba. Overall, the themes presented are deeply relevant to current times.

Overall, viewers can enjoy the film for its aesthetics like the candylike colors of the sets, extravagant wardrobes, whimsical word play, and singing – but they can also appreciate its social commentary. The film is just what we needed in the heated state of our world.