WICKED Movie Review | Cynthia Erivo | Ariana Grande | Jonathan Bailey

They didn't keep the fact that it's 2 parts a secret.

As a massive die hard fan of Wicked i didn’t enjoy this movie: the vocals of esp. Cynthia were too pop/R&B sounding—she sang w less vibrato & brightness than ive heard her do on Broadway. Likewise the songs had an annoying electronic pop beat behind them that i hated. There were too many interludes/ interruptions in the songs that killed the emotional build & tension. The songs felt lackluster & subdued. The costumes lacked storytelling. The practical sets looked like CGI. The CGI animals looked horrendously bad. As for the story, the broadway show is kinda lackluster in terms of story. Now mind you, i had read the novel before seeing the show, so that does give a different perspective & adds a lot to the show’s story but i do understand that for ppl not having read the novel, the plot & story can come off as weak. However the bombastic thrill of seeing this show live in theater w live singing & smoke & the puppet dragon—the amazing spectacle of it all—more than makes up for that. However seeing the story play out on screen, the storytelling weaknesses do become even more blatant.

Why is it in 2 parts… I hate when movies like The Hobbit, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows went into two parts… it’s ruins the continuity, and it suckers people to buy more tickets… I get it … it’s a business…. It’s a turn off

What a weird review

No spoilers yet Alonso kinda spoils the whole first act and initial set up of the movie.

Just saw wicked and I loved it. Ariana grande is amazing in this movie and the actress that play the wicked witch is awesome. Popular and gravity were my two favorite musical numbers. This is like watching an old school musical.

"Never saw the Broadway show, Never read the novel".... ok bye.

I fully believe if they hadn’t made it 2 parts Alonso would’ve liked it more.

Who going to tell Alonzo that this “prequel” is not going where he thinks it is.

Its a rubbish film, how much were you lot paid to give a review

Dang... liking Wonka but not Wicked. Cringing a little lol

Cynthia Erivo was sensational, really enjoyed this. My daughter and I went with a pink and green theme

Wasn't it always said that Glinda the good witch wasn't actually good. I seem to remember Rachel Weiszs Glinda purposely turning Mila Kunis character into the Wicked Witch. Wasn't there red flags in the original Wizard of Oz.

I knew it was part 1 because defying gravity is the theme song for trailers and they showed Dorothy Toto scarecrow tin man and the cowardly lion in the glass globe I’ll call it they start at the end of wizard of oz and go backwards like Tarantino is known for it is it’s own movie genre and then part 2 is when we get the full Judy garland movie but from the povs of the witch’s like how the 300 sequel does when you watch 300 the rise of Rome your watching a prequel a sequel and the first movie again that is all wicked is then return to oz that Disney made is what happens to Dorothy after the wizard of oz that Judy garland did

Couldn't disagree with this guy more. I walked in expecting not to like it , not knowing anything about the musical. And walked out thinking it might be the best musical movie I've ever seen.

It’s giving cynical and contrary. But love you guys and your work. This was stellar on many levels. Deserving of the onslaught of awards to come.

I loved this : that last track defying gravity and the whole sequence leading up to the end was excellent. Whoever styled everyone…. Everyone looked great. Jeff goldblum amazing casting. 9/10. I’d like to see it again. Needs a good sound system.

I walked in cold and I am not a musical guy but I walked away absolutely satisfied and stunned. Can’t wait to see part 2.

I cried throughout the whole movie. I can relate to Elphaba

I actually thought Jojker 2 was a better musical than this. This wss too long. I didnt like any of the songs. Too many songs. And only part 1? I always wanted to see the play. Now i dont want to. Seems like every time a villian is a woman in a movie she's a victim.

I’m kind of fed up with prequels about the baddie that attempts to say “they were good but things happened that made them evil” when that isn’t true to life. People who are assholes as adults tend to have been assholes as teenagers too.

Star Wars prequels; X men prequels; 101 Dalmations prequel etc., now this. Yes, these are all fantasies but unless they have some root in actual human behaviour then I can’t emotionally relate at all.

The idea that the person we see as the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz film could ever have been a good kind person at one point in time is completely ludicrous.

I walked into this cold and loved it.

So why did he go to see it FFS ??

I went into the movie not knowing anything about it and I loved it!

I'll be walking into it cold in a couple of hours. Interesting to see what I think. Thanks for your very interactive and balanced review.

Wicked is an instant classic. Defying Gravity literally left me speechless.

Wasn't enjoying it at all, so left halfway through...

I had a feeling Madame Morrible was up to no good. Not sure what gave it away.

Totally agree with Alonso on this! And I did see the Broadway show with the original cast and kinda liked it. The scenes in this were dragged out, repetitive, and none of the songs popped for me.

Ariana has a very pretty and agile voice but yes she sings in cursive, like so many of her contemporaries. Its a style, maybe someday to be enshrined and circa'd whereas in its own time is dismissed as candy fluff. I assume they didn't tell her to change that because they might have feared the limited audience potential from using the overly diction-y sounds distinct to American showtunes and high school competititons.

I’m with alonso on this one. I was a lot more bored than i expected

I actually enjoyed it, never saw the play on broadway , seen the original and The Wiz yet it was well acted and timely as hell. Of course I heard better showstoppers songs but defying gravity is a great tune when you hit intermission.

the dance scene seemed like a rip-off of the dance scene from can't buy me love :-)

Holy crap, Jeff Goldblum is The Wizard of Oz??? Could that casting be more perfect?

Did this guy say "fake-y", he couldn't find another way to phrase that? How about phoney, maybe like what an adult should say? Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel are spinning so fast in their graves for years now!

What kind of family holiday movie has themes of authoritarianism and racial suppression? Can't they just make fun fantasy movies again?

The old guy is ridiculous

I went in absolutely cold for the most part. I know a few things here and there, for example I knew THE cameo the moment it happened. Didn't know the music or the story. I thought it was surprisingly phenomenal and emotional. Loved the performances. Not really a big contemporary musical fan either.

I was worried when I could not understand a word that was being sung, but it turned around for me as it went on. I had fun. I did see the live performance, but couldn't really remember much of it as I watched the film.

I bet he doesn't know what will happen in part 2.

I couldn’t find any storyline that I really cared about… I did not think the overall opportunity for humor was really played out and in general though I am a woman I felt like it was so much estrogen I have to go take like 100 showers to get all this estrogen off me.

Booooooo I loved it

Greatest showman vibes, getting brushed off by some critics yet people are eating it up and it's gonna make bank

Totally can’t relate here. The film was great. You are way waaaaay off.

Just walked out of seeing it in IMAX. I ate this up! Who knew the Step Up Director had THIS in him 😂. Can’t wait to own it on 4K!

He seems like the type of guy who would like a movie like the joker 2 musical watch was horrible

Oh course the pompous white gay guy doesn't like it.

I acknowledge where both of you are coming from. The movie dazzles as a spectacle while also generating a bit of empathy. There's the star-crossed romantic angle, with both Elphaba and Glinda having eyes for Fiyero, while Boq has eyes for Glinda, who's fobbed him on Elphaba's poor sister. Then there's malevolent, villainous aspect, the unexplained harnessing of their animal professor and other animals. Erivo and Grande make for credible allies despite their contrasting characters. When it's apparent that the Wizard is a shyster, thus crushing Elphaba's hopes and dreams--that begs the question as to what ARE her hopes and dreams? Becoming accepted by society? Therein lies a bit of a disconnect....and the big secret as to the identity of Elphaba's real father. Hmmm, one is of two minds. Christy points out the impressive production design, choreography, costuming etc But bottom line, do we really care about Elphaba, given her ultimate tragic fate? Alonso has me mulling over the true emotional aspect. Certainly worth a look.

Yes! My kingdom for a consonant! I agree Alonso on Ariana's singing at times. I think she leaned a tad too much on Broadway musical than a Hollywood musical.
I did like this version.

I appreciate how the two of you work off each other. Neither of you discredit the other person's opinion when you disagree. You are an example of skills we can all learn.