At the risk of being the Grinch at the party — and earning the wrath of the 2003 Broadway musical’s devoted Wickedites (Ozians?) — this film is much too long.
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| Shiz University students Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo, left) and Galinda (Ariana Grande) loathe each other on first sight ... so, naturally, they're forced to room together. |
But this ponderous, 160-minute fantasy’s quieter, expository moments frequently sag beneath the weight of too many slow takes, a grim and insufficiently established subtext, and pauses so pregnant they could deliver.
Which do not, for a moment, overshadow the deeply moving, incredibly powerful and all-around superb performances by stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, both spectacular in song, dance, comedy and expressive moves and dramatic chops, as (initially) rival spell-casting students Elphaba and Galinda, at the fantastical land of Oz’s Shiz University.
I’d love to say that the über-talented Erivo and Grande compensate for this bloated film’s shortcomings, and — in fairness — they come very close. But no; nothing can fully camouflage the sagging weight of dramatic scenes than linger far beyond their sell-by date.
But that’s getting ahead of things.
Chu’s film is based on the Winnie Holzman/Stephen Schwartz play (book/music and lyrics), which in turn is adapted from Gregory Maguire’s cheeky revisionist 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Holzman collaborated on this film’s screenplay, alongside Dana Fox, and viewed it — as she has been quoted — as being an opportunity to showcase all the scenes that were cut from the stage production.
(Note to all concerned: Sometimes stuff is trimmed for good reason.)
This film opens with a prologue that hearkens back to the end of 1939’s The Wizard of Oz, as Dorothy and her companions depart along the yellow brick road, having vanquished the Wicked Witch of the West. When Glinda arrives in Munchkinland to confirm the news, one resident asks about her prior relationship with the deceased: “Is it true you once were friends?”
That takes her aback, and prompts the memories that become the story proper.
(The two spellings of Galinda’s name is a plot point.)
Years back, Munchinland Governor Thropp (Andy Nyman) is horrified when their first baby girl, Elphaba, proves to be ... green. (There’s a reason for this, also a key plot point.) Second daughter Nessarose, born a few years later, looksacceptable but will require a wheelchair her entire life.
Despite being cruelly shunned by her father — Nyman makes the man quite hateful — Elphaba endures. She also becomes a fierce protector of her younger sister: a dynamic that continues when they become young adults (now played by Erivo and Marissa Bode). Both are accepted at Shiz University, whose key instructors include Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), Dean of Sorcery Studies; and bespectacled history department head Dr. Dillamond (voiced by Peter Dinklage) ... who happens to be a goat.
Indeed, he’s one of the few Ozian Animals still permitted to teach. Occasional clues point to the fact that Animals and humans once coexisted amicably, with the former just as educated and able to speak. Alas, something — or someone — has shifted this dynamic.
The new students include Galinda, a wealthy, entitled, self-absorbed and condescending little shrew who immediately targets Elphaba for abuse. Grande’s performance, at this stage, is sublime; every flounce, toss of her hair, exaggerated sigh and spiteful remark is timed perfectly. She’s hilarious, despite her relentless cruelty.
Grande has equally impressive vocal, dance and comedy chops, which are put to excellent use during the show-stopping “Popular” sequence, which comes later and runs a breathtaking seven minutes.
Costume designer Paul Tazewell throws out all the stops, when it comes to Galinda’s massive wardrobe; Barbie isn’t the only gal who adores pink.
Once aligned with equally spiteful posse members Pfannee (Bowen Yang) and ShenShen (Bronwyn James), the resulting dynamic feels like Mean Girls in a Hogwarts-style setting.
(Bear in mind that Maguire’s book was published two years before the first Harry Potter novel.)
Elphaba, always composed despite the obvious pain in her eyes, endures the abuse with grace. (She’s had practice, thanks to her father.) Erivo is spectacular: proud and regal, each syllable of every word delivered with precision, for maximum dramatic impact.
Elphaba also proves to have considerable powers, which cause chaos whenever she’s angered or emotionally taxed; this prompts Madame Morrible to tutor her in sorcery ... which makes Galinda insanely jealous.
Worse yet, the two girls are forced to room together, which prompts all manner of droll one-upmanship.
By this point, Chu and Scott already have delivered one spectacular production number — “What Is This Feeling?” — with “Dancing Through Life” soon to follow. The latter is prompted by the arrival of Fiyero (hunky Jonathan Bailey, beloved by Bridgerton fans), a free-spirited rogue whose roving eye attracts both Elphaba and Galinda.
Bailey also has excellent song-and-dance chops.
Galinda yearns to excel at Shiz, while becoming Fiyero’s sweeties; Elphaba hopes to do well enough with sorcery, to attract the attention of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in the hopes that he can “heal” her.
But all is not what it seems ... and some of these characters also aren’t who they seem.
From the beginning, the story’s magical trappings and opulent song-and-dance sequences don’t entirely conceal a nasty undercurrent of discrimination and disenfranchisement: a nod to the unpleasant side of real-world human behavior. The irony is deliberate: Although Elphaba is viewed as “ugly” because of her skin color, she has the purest and most honest spirit, while the behavior of many fellow students is truly ugly.
Indeed, matters move into dire territory that challenges the film’s PG rating. (I honestly wonder if young children will find enough to enjoy here.)
Erivo nails Elphaba’s complexity, and knocks her laments — “I’m Not That Girl” and “Defying Gravity” — out of the park. We feel sorry for her, but admire her for not feeling sorry for herself ... and also because, when confronted with injustice, she wants to do something about it.
Even if it might jeopardize her standing at Shiz.
Nathan Crowley’s production design is amazing throughout, from the Hobbit-like simplicity of Munchkinland, to the collegiate atmosphere of Shiz University, and the steampunk razzmatazz of Emerald City, and the lair of its most famous inhabitant.
Indeed, everything about this film looks and sounds terrific, and the acting — by everybody — is sublime.
But matters abruptly stop, after well over two hours, where the original play’s Act One concluded. Given that this film — only the story’s first half (!) — runs 10 minutes longer than the entire stage play, there’s simply no escaping the accusation of self-indulgence ... and the fact that Chu and his scripters obviously didn’t let editor Myron Kerstein do his job.
Avid fans obviously won’t care, and I’ve no doubt this film will be a massive hit.
But that doesn’t make it the outstanding experience that the play is.
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