WICKED - FILM REVIEW BY ARMAAN HABIB

In an industry where very few musical films are appreciated and the majority of those being Disney films, Warner Bros have capitalised on the market. This film has been years in the making since the end of lockdown and I believe that those years of work and patience have come to fruition. I say that from the trauma I have had since watching Cats and I still have nightmares and hallucinations from the 2019 film that I am still trying my best to forget. I cannot afford the appropriate therapy.

I find myself to be lucky to have watched the theatre production in London last winter and I think this elevated the experience of the film. Although, the first question I had in mind was ‘how are they going to fit a three hour production into a two hour film?’. My question had been answered by the title card in the film, ‘Wicked: Part I’. Considering the millions poured into marketing and with the ability to market to children and adults, this was a total home run for Universal Pictures.

Chu has directed the film to a memorable hit and for some viewers replay value as the tone struck was consistent and considering the material he had to work with, he just had to steer all departments in the right direction. From wardrobe, set design, cast to visual effects, choreography and the on-screen chemistry, the film has taken it’s place in 2024’s blockbuster successes.

There were certain fears of Cynthia Erevo’s on screen presence being drowned out by Ariana Grande from a studio perspective but again this is a balance that Chu has handled with finesse to highlight both Alpheba and Glinda’s portrayals on screen. Erevo’s ‘Defying Gravity’ still echoes in my head as a bookmark for the film and while I did enjoy Grande’s ‘Popular’ and her on screen performance/choreography, I do not hold the opinion of her having the best depiction of Glinda. Her career absolutely does drive her to be thought of as the best person for the job at the time, I just believe the theatre performers before her have had more memorable performances.

This leads me onto the certain flavour imprinted on me that left a bad impression. Are we going to talk about the fact that the marketing leading up to the film's official campaign to promote the film was the affair of Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater. As much as I’d love to finish on the way the film did feel bloated at times or undertones of social injustice and fight for equality, I can’t help but feel that seeing Ethan Slater kind of ruined it for me. Hilarious, right? One look at that guy’s face and all I could think was ‘oh yeah, you left your wife and child because of this’.

Sorry all.