Wicked: For Good sticks the landing as a satisfying conclusion to the Wicked duology. The cast and crew of For Good deserve a standing ovation, and so does Director Jon M. Chu, who truly knocked it out of Kansas (there goes the farmhouse)!
Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard of Oz and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
Wicked is a live-action film adaptation of the first act of the Broadway musical phenomenon, Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz. The play is a loose adaptation of the novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, written by Gregory Maguire. Wicked was a massive hit at last year’s box office with fans and moviegoers alike. It is now time for us to return to our seats for Act Two (cue the tornado)!
For Good continues where the original left off, adapting the second act of the play. The story follows Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), better known as the “Wicked Witch of the West” by the citizens of Oz, who is on the run from the forces of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). Meanwhile, her BFF Glinda Upland (Ariana Grande) becomes “Glinda the Good”, a role model good witch for the populace of Oz to admire, and to facilitate the Wizard’s propaganda.
Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero and Ariana Grande as Glinda
From the get-go, For Good is a much darker instalment, like its play counterpart. This film absolutely does not hold back in exploring intense and complex themes of good and evil, control, and the power of perception. This analysis never feels superficial or one-dimensional, thanks to the whirlwind performances from the star-studded cast, an expanded plot, filmmaking magic, and, of course, the epic soundtrack. Listen out for Girl in the Bubble and No Place Like Home, they’re completely new bangers made for the film!
Without entering spoiler territory, Glinda’s character development is one of the many highlights of this film. Can one’s happiness be true if it comes at the price of others? If Wicked is Elphaba’s film, then it makes sense that For Good is Glinda’s time to shine.
It’s one of those cases where, “if you love the first one, you’ll love this one too.” Does this mean For Good played it safe and was a sure bet because of the success of Wicked? No! Not at all. Like the previous film, there are differences from the play. But all changes were made for the greater good, to maximise emotional impact and depth, while retaining the play’s spirit. This film’s calculated risks paid off due to a strong identity and vision, a clear benefit of having the same creative talent work on both instalments.
For Good delivers upon the promises and expectations established in Wicked. Both parts of the Wicked duology are excellent, but like Elphaba and Glinda, they are better together, as they are two halves of an extraordinary whole. Get ready to walk down the yellow brick road, one last time!
‘Wicked: For Good’ is in cinemas now!
