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‘Wicked’ flies high above expectations, honoring source material and offering refreshing interpretations of adored characters

Now that the film is streaming, read about Director Jon M. Chu’s movie adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, which refuses to accept the limits of musical adaptations to the screen and soars to magnificent scales while staying true to the heartbreaking and honest source material.

Photography by Emma-Caroline Avery/The Barnard Bulletin

December 22, 2024

The story of “Wicked” left an indelible mark on me from a young age. My mother took me to my first production of “Wicked” at the age of three, and throughout my youth, I would return to see “Wicked” twice more and spend many afternoon car rides blasting the soundtrack in the car. After nearly two decades of deep love for the musical, I went to the movie theater to finally watch the film version on November 23, 17 years after seeing it on stage for the first time.


Based on the 1995 novel “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire and the classic 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” “Wicked” is a Broadway musical set in the fictional Land of Oz far before Dorothy gets carried in by a tornado, at a time when Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West are college roommates. This year, the acclaimed musical came to the big screen. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the movie adaptation of “Wicked” (2024) follows the first act of the musical, centering on the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda, played respectively by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. 


Born with green skin, Elphaba spends her childhood being ridiculed for her colorful appearance and inability to control her inexplicable magical powers. After enrolling in sorcery studies at Shiz University, Elphaba is forced to be roommates with the blonde, beautiful, and “popular” Glinda. Despite getting off on the wrong footing (perhaps experiencing feelings of “loathing” towards each other), the two women eventually bond and become best friends. During her studies, Elphaba’s powers are recognized by a sorcery professor, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), and she gets invited to meet the powerful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). Meanwhile, the Land of Oz, where animals and humans usually function as equals in society, is full of unrest, as animals across the land are losing their ability to speak. Elphaba becomes passionate about this issue and takes it upon herself to work with the Wizard to find a solution.


I went into the screening with fear that the cast would not live up to the original roles on Broadway, yet these assumptions could not have been more wrong. Erivo’s Elphaba was honest and more vulnerable than the Elphabas I’d seen on stage, and Grande’s Glinda was blissfully sincere. Musically, both actresses sang live and brought refreshing new takes to musical numbers that are over 20 years old. Jonathan Bailey’s Prince Fiyero, the source of a love triangle between the two leading ladies, was unbelievably charming. The rest of the stacked cast delivered strong performances, and there was not one weak link dragging the movie down. 


Chu’s approach to adapting “Wicked” to the big screen elevated the beloved story and offered expansion to an already complex story. The new adaption manages to preserves the grand theatricality of the staged version while leaning into the whimsical nature of Oz to build a majestic world on a massive scale. With expansive sets and intricate costuming, the world of “Wicked” is fantastical and majestic. I found it hard to peel my eyes off the screen for even a second, afraid I may miss easter eggs referencing the stage version or its original source material (the film is rife with references to “The Wizard of Oz,” keep an eye out!). There was such clear attention to detail throughout the whole film, which is representative of how delicately this adaptation was handled. 


One of the largest sets built for this movie is Shiz University, the distinguished university for Ozian students. Most of the film takes place during Glinda and Elphaba’s time at Shiz, and Barnard students may find the collegiate atmosphere very familiar. Despite the presence of animal professors and sorcery demonstrations in the quad, Barnard students know all too well the feelings of groveling with professors to get off seminar waitlists or having to share a room with a roommate who seems to be the opposite of yourself. Most of all, Barnard students understand the importance of friendship and forming deep bonds with fellow students, and the beautiful relationship between Glinda and Elphaba is central to the film. Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship is a demonstration of platonic true love and intimacy, which is palpable both on screen and off screen in Erivo and Grande’s emotional interviews. 


Seen through the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda, one of the most effective aspects of the story’s translation from stage to screen was the expansion of vulnerability, particularly in Elphaba’s character. “Wicked” is a heartbreaking story about a woman who was deeply misunderstood and mistreated. Elphaba has been alone for most of her life and has taught herself not to wish for anything more despite her deep-down desires to be loved and accepted. Erivo leans into this vulnerability and desire for love intensely in the film, which makes for a heartbreaking performance that brought me to tears several times. The film medium allows for close-up facials and expanded scenes that reveal what is not always apparent to an audience member sitting far from the stage at a Broadway production of “Wicked.” An audience member of the film can see the defeat on Elphaba’s face and her desperation to be loved despite her continuous strength in the face of prejudice. It is deeply moving and expands the complexity of an extremely layered story and character.  


Even though “Wicked” first opened on Broadway in 2003, the story is scarily topical in November of 2024, just over 20 years later. Although the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda is placed in the foreground, underneath the surface is a story of oppression, corrupt politicians, and communities turning against each other. The Wizard even admits at some point in the film that where he comes from (Omaha, Nebraska), they believe that “the best way to bring folks together is to give them a real good enemy.” It's uncomfortably relevant to witness a society blinded by empty promises made by a leader who only seeks to elevate his own power and influence. It's hard to ignore the subtext behind the discrimination against Elphaba due to the color of her skin and the exclusion of intelligent animals from society. Themes of racism and hatred permeate throughout the story and are painfully timely, and the entire movie questions who defines goodness and wickedness and what kind of good prevails over evil. 


Overall, “Wicked” was a beautiful film that paid inspiring homage to both “The Wizard of Oz” and the Broadway musical. The soundtrack is already available on all streaming platforms, although I would recommend watching the movie first to avoid any spoilers. “Wicked” is still playing on the big screen, and Barnard students can get discounted AMC tickets at the Barnard Store and the Ticket Information Center in Lerner Hall. While I think it is definitely worth it to see this film on the big screen, the film will be available to purchase or rent on digital streaming platforms starting December 31st.


Featuring its incredible score and moving performances, “Wicked” is a worthwhile watch for any Barnard student desiring to get transported into a fantasy world that parallels ours in more ways than one.

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