When “Wicked: Part I” soared to become the highest-grossing stage-to-screen musical ever, fans were already counting the days until its counterpart arrived. “Wicked: For Good” rewards that anticipation. With Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey delivering nuanced, full-throttle performances under Jon M. Chu’s confident direction, the second half not only holds its own but honors the heart of the original musical. It feels less like a continuation and more like the moment the story finally exhales.
One of the early jolts of energy comes with “Thank Goodness/I Couldn’t Be Happier”, a number that instantly sets the film’s tone. Grande’s shimmering vocals give the opening a buoyant lift, anchoring the scene with confidence. Michelle Yeoh may not match that vocal power, but she doesn’t need to because her steely, understated turn as Madame Morrible leans on presence rather than pitch, and it’s her acting that ultimately grounds the moment.
When director Chu and composer Stephen Schwartz announced that there would be two new song additions to this Broadway classic, fans were curious about how they would fit into the established score. One of them, “No Place Like Home”, is performed by Erivo and appears early in the film. Although the song isn’t essential to the plot, Erivo’s smooth delivery makes it a compelling addition to the soundtrack.
In the second film, characters Nessarose and Boq, played by Marissa Bode and Ethan Slater, explore a tragic love story. Their story translates well on screen, especially Boq’s transition to the tin man. The sequence is intense and even scary, the production and editing really made this stand out. Slater’s portrayal of his character turning from the innocent and kind munchkin to the vengeful tin man was portrayed effectively.
Bode’s performance as Nessa is underwhelming. In this scene, and in act two, Nessa’s character becomes unhinged after the events from the first part of the musical take place. Bode’s performance underplayed this part of Nessa, and made her performance a little forgetful.
Though Jeff Goldblum’s performance as The Wizard isn’t the standout performance in the movie, his fun, quirky energy puts a fun spin on the character making him fun to watch. His rendition of “Wonderful” highlights the character’s playful facade.
Erivo and Bailey’s performance in their duet “As Long As Your Mine,” was filled with chemistry. Not only did they portray the character’s love for one another beautifully, but their vocals paired together perfectly. Both of their musical theater backgrounds were perfectly showcased in their powerhouse vocals and magnetic chemistry.
When people think of “Wicked” they commonly associate it with the iconic song “Defying Gravity” in the first part. However, in the song “No Good Deed” in “Wicked: For Good,” Erivo shines. The song stands out as one of the most vocally powerful numbers in the film. The intense storyline at this part of the movie mixed with Erivo’s powerful vocals made this one of the best parts in the whole movie.
The film’s second new song, “The Girl in the Bubble,” is performed by Grande. Her vocals and acting are captivating, though the song’s lyrics lack depth and the placement feels slightly out of step with the surrounding narrative.
The emotional peak of the film comes when Grande and Erivo sing “For Good.”
The song is a Broadway classic and their rendition with their beautifully blended vocals and captivating, nuanced acting made the scene magical, giving us an emotional goodbye to Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship.
After Elphaba and Glinda’s farewell, the movie comes to an end where Grande really shines as Glinda. She embodies everything Glinda has endured and how she has grown from it, showcasing what it means to truly be “good.”
Throughout the movie, the cast embodied their characters, making this movie so compelling. Chu brought Elphaba and Glinda’s story to life on screen beautifully. His nod to the original Broadway playbill cover serves as a heartfelt final touch.
Copy edited by Matt Brady
