(Photo Credit: Universal Pictures)
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(“Wicked: For Good” trailer courtesy of Universal Pictures)
To culturally appropriate from the good people of Boston, “Wicked: For Good” is wicked good.
Participating in a movie franchise is a catch-22 because the movie has a built-in fanbase.
However, the bar is often so high that it might take wicked performances to measure up to the predecessors.
Thanks to strong vocal performances from Cynthia Erivo, and angelic vocal performances by Ariana Grande, “Wicked: For Good” gets its wicked performances, and reduces Dorothy and Dodo (or whatever his name is) to minor characters in a major film success.
As expected, “Wicked” had great musical performances.
How could it not with talents like Erivo and Grande?
But where does “Wicked” rank in the “Wizard of Oz” universe?
Likewise, where will “Wicked: For Good” rank?
After viewing “Wicked For Good,” the musical Mt. Rushmore should be:
- “The Wiz”
- “Wicked: For Good”
- “Wicked”
- “The Wizard of Oz”
Although critics blasted “The Wiz” back in 1978, no film is coming close to it musically because no artists will ever be able to compete with prime Michael Jackson and prime Diana Ross.
But the musical numbers, both solos and duets, in “Wicked: For Good” are so marvelous that the film must come in second place in the music department.
“Wicked: For Good” embodies the belief that perception sometimes becomes reality.
Although Elphaba (Erivo) had pure and good intentions with her defiance of The Wizard in “Wicked,” her reputation as the Wicked Witch has become her reality, whether she likes it or not.
Although most of Oz sees Elphaba as being evil, while viewing Glinda (Grande) as good, the new wicked witch is determined to restore her reputation and expose The Wizard’s devious activities.
“Wicked: For Good” is obviously fictional and based in fantasy.
But the belief amongst many that Elphaba is evil is believable in the real world because often the powers-that-be possess the ability to make someone the good guy or the bad guy.
And unfortunately, society often needs clear lines between good and evil, even though it is not always black and white.
While Elphaba wants to use her powers for good, some in her own family use their powers for evil, adversely affecting many lives in the process.
Furthermore, once someone gets the reputation of being powerful, if they do not truly possess any power, they must do special things to cover up their deficiencies.
But if the good person has the right people behind them, they can keep up their façade.
However, if the talented and righteous person gets on the wrong side of the people in charge, common people might never see that they meant to use their powers for good and bring positive change to their society.
Elphaba finds herself in exile because she challenged The Wizard’s authoritarian agenda.
Therefore, she must do what she can to expose the dictator, or accept her new reputation, while living in exile away from family and friends forever.
And even if the person that is accepted by the ruler of society wants to right his wrong, sometimes a person’s place in life is predetermined.
And no matter what they do or say, people will view them negatively, even if they had the purest intentions.
The theme for “Wicked: For Good” resonates because it is real life.
It is the story of the haves and have nots.
It is the story of how a supremely talented person failed to go as far in life as their less talented counterpart, simply because the less talented peer had the right people behind them, propping them up, while keeping the other person down and out.
Additionally, “Wicked: For Good” is the story how a less talented person can go farther in life than the more talented person if they have the certain look that society deems more beautiful.
And it deals with outcasts and people on the margins of society coming to grips with their reality and finding peace regardless.
But “Wicked: For Good” also deals with the reality that even if most of society does not see a person’s worth, all that misfit needs is that special somebody to see their true gifts and their beauty, and life becomes much easier after that.
Also, “Wicked: For Good” resonates because of the good vocal performances by its two leading ladies.
A duet between Grande and Erivo is fantastic.
The movie also has some good one-liners and quotable statements.
The one liner of Glinda the Good Witch desiring to trademark the word good is good (not to sound redundant).
And the visuals are great.
The colors are fantastic, and the firework scene is very beautiful.
And just like its predecessors, the animals in “Wicked: For Good” are adorable, even if moviegoers are not animal lovers.
Unfortunately, “Wicked: For Good” contains some cheesiness.
But that is expected because it is a fantasy and adventure film, not something to take so seriously all the time.
But the serious message that “Wicked: For Good” contains is something that is timeless, which should make the recent reincarnations of “The Wizard of Oz” just as memorable as the O.G. from 1939.
The 1939 film became such a staple in American households in the 20th century, especially before the popularity of cable television, that children would look forward to the one time a year when the movie aired on national television.
And although remakes appropriate from the originals, when the remakes or reinventions are as good as “Wicked: For Good,” how could one complain?
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
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