LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — John M. Chu gives the “Wicked” franchise an emotional goodbye and a powerful finale. The ending of the powerful story ties together themes of sacrifice, power and friendship while Elphaba and Glinda approach their final journey together, reaching a bittersweet ending.
The movie follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) after her escape from Oz and the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) as she works to reveal his corruption. Glinda (Ariana Grande) is caught in the middle, secretly aiding in Elphaba’s mission while also wielding her newfound power as the image of goodness, as manufactured by the Wizard. Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), Captain of the Guard and the romantic interest of both Glinda and Elphaba, also struggles between following his heart and maintaining the facade he is forced to uphold.
The hit movie musical is an adaptation of the 1995 novel namesake by Gregory Maguire, titled “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” and combines his childhood fascination with The Wizard of Oz and his proximity to the Gulf War, he began to consider the role of evil in our society, leading to the conception of The Wicked Witch of the West.
“Wicked: For Good” carries the story that Elphaba is a misunderstood individual. She is villainized by others throughout both films, but her image as “wicked” is not the truth of her actions. Elphaba’s isolation forces her to shape her own decisions, giving her more emotional depth than ever. Elphaba and Glinda transition from rivals to sisters as the film journeys through the events of change and loyalty between the friends.
This film then becomes the story of sacrifice. Elphaba sacrifices her own reputation and safety to do what’s right for Oz, which lies in political corruption and chaos, and Glinda surrenders her own honesty and innocence. Both sacrifice their friendship in different ways for Oz, contributing to a larger theme of change and loyalty, as individuals and in their relationships. This film forces them to choose between each other and the people they want to protect.
“Wicked: For Good” features dramatic lighting and shadows to match the film’s undertones and color schemes. Softer tones appear more when there’s a theme of friendship but emotional scenes often require cooler, darker tones. The magic in this movie doesn’t feel flashy but elemental and more essential. Set designs for this movie feel dreamy and enchanted. Oz is a colorful and magical place visually, but corruption lies under it, explaining why Oz is a fairytale set in a political drama.
The adaptation employs visuals, characters and an emotional storyline to tell an amazing story about how friendships can change, and people grow apart. The film does a great job of mixing stunning visuals and powerful performances to make this story come alive, reminding viewers that even when friendships end, a person can continue to create a lasting impact. This message makes “Wicked: For Good” memorable and meaningful for good.
Costume design for Elphaba displayed The Grove AMC theater in Los Angeles.
