Given that I am not a fan of the Broadway musical of the same name, I came into “Wicked” with little to no expectations of what I was about to watch. I’m typically not a follower of musicals, but after watching the movie, I became invested in the plot line.
Released in November 2024, “Wicked” is an American musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman. The movie adapts the first act of the 2003 stage musical by producers Marc Platt and David Stone, which is loosely based on the 1955 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire.
Set in the magical land of Oz, the story is told from the perspective of two witches, Elphaba, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. In the beginning, the plot tells the backstory of Elphaba, who begins as a misunderstood child born with green skin. She then later attends Shiz University, which is where she first meets Glinda, her polar opposite. Glinda is the popular girl with long, flowing hair who comes to Shiz to learn the powers of magic.
The two women end up rooming together and form an unlikely friendship. What begins in rivalry, with the women despising each other for their differences, develops into a close bond.
As the story goes on, their friendship takes a significant toll when Elphaba discovers she has powers which she cannot control. In one of the moments when Elphaba accidentally uses her powers, the headmistress at Shiz, Madame Morrible, takes her under her wing to teach her how to handle her powers. Madame Morrible’s actions help make Elphaba feel special and forget some of the prejudice she has faced, leading to her desire to change the world for good.
Elphaba’s biggest turning point is when she decides to confront the Wizard of Oz, who she believes is the only one with the power to change the world. At first, Elphaba is drawn to the Wizard by his power and potential for good. She becomes a huge supporter of his cause, hoping that by aligning with him, she can make a real difference.
The movie balances the themes of self-identity, equality, friendship, and standing up for what you believe in. The storyline may not appeal to every viewer, but it’s a film that deeply resonates with fans of the original show and anyone who enjoys a good musical performance.
I thought “Wicked” was a great movie with amazing set designs and costumes. I would have never thought I would see Ariana Grande starring in a musical with a lead role, but both main actors deliver phenomenal performances. After watching the movie, I became more invested in the whole “Wicked” universe, which is much broader than just the movie. This is one film worth watching even if you are not a fan of musicals.
“Wicked” will begin streaming on Peacock on March 21.
