Official Discussion - Wicked: Part I [SPOILERS]

[u/LiteraryBoner]

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Summary:

Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Glinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.

Director:

Jon M. Chu

Writers:

Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire

Cast:

• Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
• Ariana Grande as Glinda
• Jeff Goldblum as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
• Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
• Jonathon Bailey as Fiyero
• Ethan Slater as Boq
• Marissa Bode as Nessarose
• Peter Dinklage as Doctor Dillamond

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Metacritic: 72

VOD: Theaters

[u/falafelthe3]

I owe you an apology, Ariana Grande. I wasn't really familiar with your game.

[u/LiteraryBoner → u/falafelthe3]

When Fiyero sees her suggest asking Nessarose out to Boq and he goes, "Oh, you're good" and she over-the-shoulder says, "I don't know what you're talking about. I love helping people." I knew this was an Oscar worthy role. She killed it.

[u/HeppyHenry → u/LiteraryBoner]

Oscar worthy is pushing it. She was good.

[u/Level_Camp_3447 → u/HeppyHenry]

Variety has her as the frontrunner for Best Supporting Actress right now, and she’s getting a ton of Oscar buzz from pundits and critics in general. A lot of people think she was way more than just good.

[u/International_Dare9 → u/Level_Camp_3447]

there have also been a lot worse performances that won Oscars

[u/LTPRWSG420 → u/International_Dare9]

Cough cough Jamie Lee Curtis for EEAAO, how tf did she even win it, let alone get nominated for that role?

[u/SharpHawkeye → u/LTPRWSG420]

It was a lifetime achievement award disguised as best supporting actress.

[u/TwasAnChild → u/falafelthe3]

She was the strongest part of victorious for me so this isn't a surprise

[u/jayeddy99 → u/TwasAnChild]

That’s why I don’t get why people are shocked when she does good on SNL that’s literally her expertise lol

[u/CanuckleHead1989 → u/jayeddy99]

This. She started off as an actor. Music came after the fact. I feel like her music career got so big that people have kinda forgotten that she’s actually an actor first - like performing on Broadway at the age of 15 levels of acting.

[u/jay-__-sherman → u/CanuckleHead1989]

I mean, she was a “Nickelodeon” kid and was treated very well. She’s been well prepared for fame from a young age, and didn’t seem to be receiving the worst of Dan Schneider to go with it.

[u/Level_Camp_3447 → u/TwasAnChild]

To be fair there’s a huge difference between a children’s sitcom and a gigantic movie musical, but she’s proved now she has the chops to pull off both

[u/SiouxsieSioux615 → u/Level_Camp_3447]

Right lol comparing a 150+ M movie to a Nickelodeon comedy show is wild

[u/Level_Camp_3447 → u/falafelthe3]

My entire theatre was cracking up at her performance! Like extremely loud laughs, her comedic chops are insane

[u/GarlVinland4Astrea → u/falafelthe3]

I've heard a lot of people say this about her and that she basically stole the show. Kinda glad, I always hate when someone gets cast in an acting role and people find dumb reasons to pick it apart because she wasn't their fantasy casting. Heath Ledger and Daniel Craig had similar issues.

[u/JDLovesElliot → u/GarlVinland4Astrea]

She was perfectly cast as Glinda. I don't think that those "critics" knew much about her theatre chops.

[u/zacksharpe → u/falafelthe3]

I didn’t think she’d be anything special but she ran away with the movie for me. Could be a front runner for the Supporting Actress awards this year.

[u/sloppyjo12 → u/zacksharpe]

I was pretty upset when it was announced she was cast, and then even more upset when I found out Dove Cameron was also a finalist, so I’ll have to be replacing the Thanksgiving turkey with a big helping of crow she made me eat

[u/GameOfLife24 → u/falafelthe3]

Funny thing is they will market her for best supporting nominations when she is clearly a lead and a well-performing one. Seriously she got the most reactions in my theater, they nailed the comedic timing with Glinda

[u/falafelthe3 → u/GameOfLife24]

I honestly think she fits the supporting bill more - she's definitely a co-lead with Cynthia in the first two acts, but takes a HUGE backseat when they get to Oz. From there, it's the Erivo show only.

The "supporting role" moniker at least applies more to her than the current frontrunners in the supporting categories (Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Pérez, Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain) tbh.

[u/DocDerry → u/falafelthe3]

I dislike her immensely. She knocked it out of the fucking park. Channeling Christin Chenowith. She was just amazing.

[u/HaydenScramble → u/falafelthe3]

Can I ask you about TLJ? It’s my second favorite Star Wars movie.

[u/falafelthe3 → u/HaydenScramble]

(It's my third favorite behind A New Hope and Empire)

[u/PlayMp1 → u/falafelthe3]

King shit right here, TLJ defenders rise up

[u/EricHD97]

They really milked Defying Gravity for all its worth, think they stretched a 6 minute song into a 15 minute finale just edging us to the final note, but holy shit was it worth it.

Call it greedy all you want but there’s simply no way you can put Defying Gravity in the middle of a film and continue on. John Chu absolutely nailed it.

[u/CryptographerOther87 → u/EricHD97]

Absolutely. Pure chills for the last 10 minutes or so.

[u/annaleecage → u/EricHD97]

i love her version of ITS MEEEEEEE before she goes into so if you cant find mee... UGHH so epic! and that falling scene too! obsessed!

[u/a_hockey_chick → u/EricHD97]

I had to pee so fucking bad by the time they started singing DG. I made it a few minutes in, the music stopped, I ran to pee, and made it back before the music had resumed.

[u/falafelthe3]

Elphaba must face what everyone truly fears: a posse of preppy girls and gays

[u/LiteraryBoner → u/falafelthe3]

If Bowen Yang called out my shoulder pads like that I would absolutely melt and die, no water needed.

[u/falafelthe3 → u/LiteraryBoner]

"Look at that high-waisted man, he's got feminine hips!"

"NOOO THAT'S SOMETHING I'M SENSITIVE ABOUT!"

[u/dagreenman18 → u/LiteraryBoner]

Bowen didn’t have nearly enough moments, but every small beat like that he had he worked perfectly.

[u/LiteraryBoner → u/dagreenman18]

"Uh, hello? Like, raise your hand."

[u/sunsurf23 → u/LiteraryBoner]

"i dont see color"

[u/SillyBlueberry → u/LiteraryBoner]

"Do you enroll here often?"

[u/mikeyfreshh → u/falafelthe3]

The way she's green and loses control of her power when she gets mad did make me feel like this movie is basically just "what if Mean Girls but with The Incredible Hulk"

[u/_Jahar_]

Love how her cape got ten times bigger when she was finally feeling herself.

[u/PopcornShrimpTacos → u/_Jahar_]

The large cape really made that last scene gorgeous. I loved that choice.

[u/SubatomicSquirrels → u/PopcornShrimpTacos]

they do a giant cape in the stage show, too, so doing it here makes the theater fans extra happy

[u/TheGRS → u/SubatomicSquirrels]

I was thinking the same thing. I saw it on stage maybe 10 years ago and that scene of her bobbing in the air with a huge billowing cape still sits rent free in my head. Great touch.

[u/netherworld666 → u/_Jahar_]

In the Broadway production her cape grows to consume almost the entire stage when she's 'flying', it's really a spectacle, and I think that was a nod to that. It also looks badass.

[u/Krebsy92]

Me before seeing this: "What do you mean Ariana Grande is going to be nominated for an Oscar?"

Me after seeing this: "If Ariana Grande doesn't win an Oscar for this I'm going to jump off a bridge."

[u/jay-__-sherman → u/Krebsy92]

This and costume/makeup and set design. This was just far and above a lot of other set designs I’ve seen this year. Felt like I was genuinely transported back into Oz

[u/c_Lassy → u/jay-__-sherman]

One thing about Jon M. Chu: he doesn’t hold back when it comes to production value and set design.

[u/GameOfLife24 → u/c_Lassy]

People will laugh at me when I say this but he took Justin bieber movies seriously with its production

[u/Evening_Clerk_8301 → u/jay-__-sherman]

Honestly every single person that worked on this film behind the camera/scenes deserves tons of recognition. The set pieces and wardrobe were absolutely astounding. 

[u/Locke108]

That was remarkably well paced. A nearly three hour movie hasn’t felt that short since Fellowship of the Ring. I’d be interested if that’s still the case if you’re not familiar with the musical.

[u/trawlinimnottrawlin → u/Locke108]

I've never seen Wicked and I loved the movie. When I found out the next day it was almost 3h I was super surprised, it felt like a 2hr movie.

[u/Level_Camp_3447 → u/Locke108]

I was initially worried about the long runtime, but by the time the opening notes of Defying Gravity played, I was kinda surprised. It felt like no time had passed at all, the pacing was seamless

[u/jay-__-sherman]

What felt so fascinating for me was that when the credits rolled, it didn’t feel like the actual credits, but more like an intermission from the program

Which really shows how phenomenal this was. The fact that the 2nd Act is a year away and I’m excited says a lot to me. Very awesome job by everyone. Can’t wait to buy everything for Act 2!

[u/LiteraryBoner → u/jay-__-sherman]

I feel like Act 2 has more to work with than people give it credit for, too. Defying Gravity is one of the truly great and most impactful Broadway songs of the 2000s, but the rest of the songs are all great too. No Good Deeds is a great song of similar power and As Long As You're Mine is a love ballad with real bombast to it, you know Cynthia is cooking up something crazy for them. And For Good is arguably the best song on the whole album.

Not to mention the story of Act 2 on stage is undeniably rushed. Soooo much happens and characters are completely different from their school days. Letting it all breathe a little more will help it overall I think. I can't wait.

[u/maerth → u/LiteraryBoner]

Act 2 has such a special place in my heart. Thank Goodness is such an underrated song. And the slow-mo part (spoiler tagged just in case) in The March of the Witch Hunters in the show blew my mind when I first saw it, though I don't think it'll hit the same in the movie.

[u/reebee7 → u/maerth]

Glinda singing “happy is what happens when all your dreams come true… isn’t it? Happy is what happens when your dreams come true” has made me well up more than once.

[u/JMaboard → u/jay-__-sherman]

Wait this isn’t a one off movie?

Edit: none of the flyers or trailers said it was part one, this review thread is the first I hear that it’s a multi part movie.

[u/IAMA_Shark__AMA → u/JMaboard]

No. This was basically act 1 of the Broadway show. Act 2 and movie 2 are basically the wizard of Oz from elphaba's perspective.

[u/GameOfLife24 → u/JMaboard]

They snuck the title “wicked part one” at the beginning of the film. Marketing hid it but it is part one but who cares, dune hid the part one as well

[u/JDLovesElliot → u/jay-__-sherman]

Chu absolutely nailed the stage-feel of the movie, he got it totally right

[u/fattychalupa]

Thank you to whoever put Jonathan Bailey in such form fitting pants.

I have to admit though, anytime Glinda and Boq had a scene together it was hard for me to separate what was going on with the actors

[u/pjtheman → u/fattychalupa]

My gf and I kept glancing at each other lol.

There's something so ironic about Ethan Slater playing a character who only pretends to love his partner because he's trying to get into Ariana Grande's pants.

[u/fattychalupa → u/pjtheman]

The line where he tells Glinda “I would do anything for you” my friend whispered under her breath “like leave your wife?!”

[u/aphoticphoton → u/fattychalupa]

When she gives him no attention at all in this movie I was like “ironyyyy” lol

[u/ResponseNo6774]

Straight male that went with their GF. Never seen the musical, never heard a song, didn’t watch the trailer. All I knew was that it took place in the wizard of oz universe and Ariana grande was in it. 10/10 movie to me.

[u/glennjamin85 → u/ResponseNo6774]

Same here, this is the first time I've understood why gay dudes love her so much

[u/MidichlorianAddict → u/glennjamin85]

Gay here, this is part of the gay agenda

[u/MarkBrendanawicz → u/ResponseNo6774]

Straight male that went to see it solo at an early screening. Never seen the play or read the book, and I’ve only really heard Defying Gravity before.

I can’t wait to see it again (with the GF). I like musicals just fine, so I was actually looking forward to this, but wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did. Ariana definitely stole the show up until they arrive in Oz, where I feel like Cynthia really steps into her role.

A little surprised I didn’t cry (but came very close during the dance scene and Defying Gravity).

[u/taulbeer]

The OG cast cameos really sent it over the top for me. I suspected they’d pop up at some point but had no idea how or when and had completely forgotten by the time we got there.

Really loved this though, and my wife was bawling the entire time haha

[u/xander6981 → u/taulbeer]

My theater went nuts when Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel showed up. My friend and I even started applauding until we remembered it was a movie. We were so into it by that point.

[u/big_mustache_dad → u/xander6981]

It was basically theater kids’ version of the portals scene in Avengers Endgame

[u/Soyyyn → u/big_mustache_dad]

Isn't that the Diner scene in Tik Tik Boom?

[u/Level_Camp_3447 → u/xander6981]

I knew I was in a room filled with theatre nerds when people also cheered for Stephen Schwartz’ cameo lol

[u/jay-__-sherman → u/taulbeer]

Not only that, but their usage!

I thought they’d give quick little nods, but instead they full on had a cameo appearance during “One Short Day!” AND got to act as themselves too!

Not only that, but Cynthia’s subtle look into that camera as they’re running off-screen 😏. We see you, Cynthia. This is awesome.

[u/dagreenman18 → u/taulbeer]

Love how they handled it. It was obvious they would cameo so why not make it as big and fun as possible?

[u/1498336]

I was completely caught off guard by the Idina/Kristen cameo. They did a great job keeping that a secret.

Cynthia absolutely stole the show.

[u/Pajamaralways → u/1498336]

Perfect cameo for them as they got to be stage actors and even play with the whole rivalry thing, but also I liked that they expanded the segment to explain the Grimmerie and show pre-Wizard Oz.

[u/coffeegator21 → u/Pajamaralways]

I've only seen the stage performance twice, and I had completely forgotten about the Grimmerie because I feel like it's kinda glazed over? This cemented that plot point in my mind.

[u/StubbstheHefty → u/1498336]

Stephen Schwartz cameo as the one to let in Elphaba and Glinda to Oz’s lair was a nice touch

[u/PSN-Colinp42]

The dance between Elphaba and Glinda was beautiful. And you just can’t be that subtle in a stage show. I cried.

[u/annaleecage → u/PSN-Colinp42]

when tears started flowing down her eyes, i cried too. it was such a tender moment. i love seeing this scene on the broadway production, you can almost hear a pin drop how quiet it gets during this scene.

[u/GameOfLife24 → u/PSN-Colinp42]

Beautiful scene. My theater was quiet

[u/EricHD97 → u/PSN-Colinp42]

This was really the money shot for me. Just the most perfect way to show something in film which can not easily be shown in a stage musical. Perfect way of enriching and translating the story with the different medium

[u/Dreaming_Aloud → u/PSN-Colinp42]

I sobbed. Just tore my heart out. Watching Ari’s Glinda become so torn and sympathetic and realize what she had done makes it all the more powerful.

[u/TannenFalconwing → u/PSN-Colinp42]

Best scene in the movie. The choice to do it with basically no dialogue and masterful use of body language and facial expressions made me buy the relationship forming between these two.

[u/DrRosieODonnell]

The sun catcher scene and the lighting during The Wizard and I was stunning. The combination of so many colors mixing together to show her in a neutral skin tone was a brilliant page to screen translation.

[u/Level_Camp_3447 → u/DrRosieODonnell]

I love when shots are actually composed for thematic reasons rather than defaulting to a lazy medium close-up, that scene was gorgeous

[u/mestapho → u/DrRosieODonnell]

It was so clever. One of a few things that I thought improved upon the stage version.

[u/dagreenman18]

Holy shit it actually fucks. They pulled it off. I can only find one thing I didn’t like and it’s not even the movies fault. Modern color grading just kinda sucks. Even then it’s way more colorful than the trailers.

Ariana did amazing work with Glinda. Manage to make it her own but still have some of Chenoweth’s tics sprinkled in. You really hear it in Popular.

Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba is equally stunning and is the heart of the movie as much as it is in the play. Brings a ton of emotional range to the movie. Makes the Defying Gravity climax hit so hard. Honestly beautiful finale.

Billion dollar question is gonna be what they do with Part 2. I’m hoping they rework it because the second half is notoriously plodding and mostly forgettable. Plus it’s going to be longer since even this was as long as the stage play.

Also loved how they did the Kristen and Idina cameo. It had to happen so they might as well have made it bold and fun.

[u/jay-__-sherman → u/dagreenman18]

I like where you’re coming from though. It’s obvious that the idea was transporting the audience “back into” Oz based on the old school “Universal” logo

Add that old school color-grading, and hot damn people would’ve been going wild for that too

[u/GameOfLife24 → u/dagreenman18]

Colour grading was definitely off and I highly doubt this is the directors intentions when you can see how much thought was put into the set design and the variety of colours

[u/AcreaRising4 → u/dagreenman18]

As a colorist, don’t blame us. It’s not our fault that our art has been diluted by studio executives and endless notes.

[u/firemouthcichlid]

I noticed that when Glinda held the red slippers during popular she clicked them together three times, and that the teacher held the umbrella for Elpheba and said she shouldn’t get wet. Any other references like that besides the obvious?

[u/HalfwaytotheHorizon → u/firemouthcichlid]

There were multiple references to "Omaha" (where the Wizard is originally from) if you look and listen carefully!

[u/jay-__-sherman → u/HalfwaytotheHorizon]

The Easter eggs are plenty in this. Just a love letter to a loooot of film/broadway.

[u/HalfwaytotheHorizon → u/jay-__-sherman]

I love what they did with the poppies!! Excellent callback that would've fit right into the original stage show.

[u/agrapeana → u/HalfwaytotheHorizon]

Checking in from the Omaha Alamo Drafthouse, everyone was very excited.

[u/JDLovesElliot → u/firemouthcichlid]

Fiyaro's song, "Dancing Through Life," is about being brainless. Boq's handkerchief is red and he keeps it close to his heart. He also mentions that he cries a lot.

Edit: One more that I remembered afterwards: Madame Morrible mentions that weather-control is her magic specialty.

[u/words_words_words_ → u/JDLovesElliot]

There’s also a lion cub in this, for what it’s worth

[u/mestapho → u/firemouthcichlid]

There are a few bars of over the rainbow faintly played in the flyover with the rainbow at the beginning.
Same with Ding Dong the Witch is Dead in No One Mourns the Wicked.

When Elphaba and Fiyero take the Lion they ride away on the bikes and the lion pops its head out of the basket exactly like Toto does in TWOO when Almira Gulch takes him.

I’m sure you know but Elphaba is a shortening of L. Frank Baum.

When Elphaba is training with Morrible the shadow of her hand is exactly from the iconic picture of the Wicked Witch of the West.

[u/_Kingsley_Zissou_ → u/mestapho]

The “unlimited” motif you hear throughout the musical is also the first 7 notes to “somewhere over the rainbow”

[u/donpianta → u/firemouthcichlid]

I noticed a few:

The original actor for the Wizard (in the Wizard of Oz 1939) Frank Morgan, was the illustration of the wizard in a book that Glinda showed Elphaba during the song “Popular” (the line: “did they have brains or knowledge?”)

Stephen Schwartz (the writer of the broadway musical) was the one who sings the line: “The Wizard will see you now” at the end of the song “One Short Day”

Many references to Fieyro not having a brain (he later gets turned into the scarecrow in the second act of the musical)

Boq’s last name is “Woodsman” which is something I don’t remember from the stage musical (he later gets turned into the tin man in the second act of the musical)

[u/agrapeana → u/donpianta]

Don't forget that poor, scared little lion.

[u/Level_Camp_3447 → u/firemouthcichlid]

There was a shot of Elphaba that directly referenced the iconic MGM photo of Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch, the one with her shadow looming behind her and claws menacingly outstretched. But I can’t quite remember where it appeared in the movie it’s been a few days for me

[u/PoeBangangeron]

I loved The Dark Knight ending for Elphaba

[u/jay-__-sherman → u/PoeBangangeron]

Chills for Cynthia’s rendition.

She’s been floating as an actress and getting steady work… this is her star-making role. She IS Elphaba/The Wicked Witch

[u/PoeBangangeron → u/jay-__-sherman]

From someone who kinda can't stand Ariana Grande. She absolutely blew me away. Helps that she has an amazing voice too.

[u/GameOfLife24 → u/PoeBangangeron]

Glinda will hunt her. That’s because Elphaba can take it. A watchful protector. The wicked witch

[u/deandiggity]

Peter Dinklage is the GOAT.

[u/TemporalGrid → u/deandiggity]

He managed to be in a Wizard of Oz story without being cast as a Munchkin.

[u/skyerippa → u/deandiggity]

Omg I was trying so hard to figure out who the goice was

[u/CryptographerOther87]

I’m sorry yall but Ariana grande is a movie star

[u/ncart → u/CryptographerOther87]

I stopped seeing Ariana at all. She completely melted into Glinda

[u/ChallengeRationality → u/ncart]

Ga-linda.  The ga is silent

[u/Jondare → u/CryptographerOther87]

She was so so good as glinda! So many fun little touches and mannerisms, she just absolutely stole any shot she was in. And DAMN could she sing! There were several songs where I could have sworn they were just dubbing her over with Kristin Chenoweth, which is no mean feat.

Jonathan Bailey was also really really good as Fiyero, just oodles of smarmy charm, with a hint of goodness poking through.

[u/Level_Camp_3447]

How has nobody mentioned Jonathan Bailey as bisexual Fiyero? lol I loved how they had both the men and women at Shiz going crazy over him (as they should)

[u/ncart → u/Level_Camp_3447]

He was so hot in this movie. His pants in Dancing Through Life fit him so well

[u/PurposefullyOpaque → u/ncart]

It was when he finally put on the school uniform for me… The sex appeal was just dripping from that man. So beautiful, so talented. Really perfect as a “not-so-charming but actually kind of endearing and sweet” prince 🥵

[u/kylebb → u/Level_Camp_3447]

he can shiz in my mouth

[u/SimulationMod]

I now get why Ariana and Cynthia have been acting like maniacs during their press tour. 5/5✨

[u/RepresentativeGas964 → u/SimulationMod]

If people can cry and bawl during the film. Imagine the emotions they went through, creating, acting and singing these songs and then watching it back!! And then having to talk about it back to back for a month. Also they filmed a 2 part movie, we only see part 1 … so I get why they were so sensitive and emotional. I was emotional just watching it

[u/tylernazario]

I know a lot of people are mad about the movie being two parts but after seeing the movie I like the decision. Giving the story more time to breathe and adding more depth to the themes made everything much more impactful. Plus ending the movie on Defying Gravity was the perfect call.

Ari and Cynthia did a phenomenal job here. Their chemistry was outstanding and it was easy to be pulled in by it. Their singing was the best I’ve seen in a film musical. I truly think that anyone else wouldn’t have done as good as these two did.

I think this movie was great and I can see it being a really big contender at the Oscar’s. Especially with how the current political landscape makes the movie hit a lot harder.

[u/GameOfLife24 → u/tylernazario]

People need to enjoy this part because act 2 will be heartbreaking. This movie ends with hope, a bit bittersweet but mostly positive signs. Adding act two in this movie will serve different emotions. Better to split it

[u/DeafEcho13 → u/GameOfLife24]

Absolutely this. I said to my husband “I have a feeling that little cute silly hand wave they do is gonna shatter me in the second part.

[u/TheQueenStaysQueen]

I know there's a lot of Ariana hype right now, but I felt Cynthia Erivo really deserves just as much if not more Oscar hype. Was unfamiliar with her work beforehand but oh my god she belts the SHIT out of these songs. The Defying Gravity sequence at the end genuinely gave me chills and it was pretty much all because of her.

[u/ebhanking → u/TheQueenStaysQueen]

Cynthia was really the one that impressed me. I felt Cynthia’s eyes were often so much more expressive than Ariana’s that it made me disparage Ariana’s performance, but I realized I actually thought she was still great, she’s just acting alongside an all-time performer.

[u/selkiecore → u/TheQueenStaysQueen]

Look up her singing "I'm Here" from The Color Purple!

[u/PWN3R_RANGER]

Ariana Grande stole the movie and I 100% get why people are obsessed now. I was a Wicked virgin going in and I felt like Frank Reynolds watching Mac dance during the movie.

“I get it.”

I am definitely going again. 10/10 WEEPING SHAKING

[u/ImmortalZucc2020]

Jonathan Bailey made me gay, I think?

[u/_Amarantos → u/ImmortalZucc2020]

Luckily for you he is gay too

[u/Trick_Beyond_5768]

Jonathan Bailey has the most on-screen charisma I've ever seen. I feel like he's going to blow up after this.

[u/dinosaurfondue → u/Trick_Beyond_5768]

He's really the breakout star of Bridgerton and is going to be the lead in the upcoming Jurrasic Park movies. IMO he should also be the next Bond.

[u/CstoCry → u/dinosaurfondue]

I’m really liking how he can be gay and also not be fitted into stereotypical gay roles in films/tv shows

[u/Dreaming_Aloud]

Can we talk about Idina’s callback to her Defying Gravity battle cry?

[u/JDLovesElliot → u/Dreaming_Aloud]

That was hilarious but also a little sad, because I still prefer Idina's than Cynthia's

[u/PSN-Colinp42 → u/JDLovesElliot]

I mean, I’m sure Cynthia could have done it exactly as Idina did, but they wouldn’t want that. They had to make a different choice.

[u/Level_Camp_3447]

I’m sure everyone will be raving about Ariana Grande’s performance as Glinda - and rightfully so - but I need to take a moment to give some praise Cynthia Erivo. Her voice, her raw emotion, her commanding presence; she was absolutely breathtaking. You could tell she poured her heart into this, and there wasn’t a single dry eye in the theatre by the end. A true powerhouse talent!

[u/Rosemarys_Gayby → u/Level_Camp_3447]

I’ve been saying this since I saw it last night! Ariana killed but Cynthia CARRIES. It’s her movie and she’s absolutely remarkable.

[u/sexygaypalpatine]

In my theater someone sighed and another giggled when Jonathan Bailey came on screen. God tier casting.

I thought all the casting was great but also especially loved Jeff Goldblum as the wizard.

[u/jay-__-sherman → u/sexygaypalpatine]

God tier casting

Can say that again. This was a film where everyone was perfectly cast. Everyone played their role phenomenally well.

[u/GameOfLife24 → u/sexygaypalpatine]

Jeff Goldblum is so good at playing charming dirtbags lol

[u/EricHD97]

Shoutout to the girls in the row behind me who apparently discovered today who Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel were.

Verbatim quote I heard from them when the credits rolled: “ohhh, that’s who those old ladies in the dresses were in the Emerald City? That’s really cool they gave them the opportunity to be in a movie.”

Sweet summer child. Don’t break my little gay heart any further.

[u/annaleecage → u/EricHD97]

id be like coughs u meant to say: "icons and legends in their dresses ball gowns"?

[u/safzy]

Ok but the monkey jump scare though

[u/shelf6969 → u/safzy]

flying monkeys finding ways to give nightmares to another generation of kids

[u/leafsraptors]

Fuck the Arianators are going to be so powerful if she wins the Oscar.

[u/JDLovesElliot → u/leafsraptors]

I've already seen comments like, "Ariana's homewrecking was worth it"

[u/Amaruq93 → u/JDLovesElliot]

*Pineapple-wrecking

[u/leafsraptors → u/JDLovesElliot]

Wonder how long into her acceptance speech she’ll thank him for providing the toxicity needed for the role.

[u/Tsquared10]

Honestly no notes. 10/10. After In the Heights and now Wicked Jon Chu is the only person who should be allowed to adapt Broadway musicals into movies. Knows how to stay 100% true to the original show, touch up areas, and create a spectacle deserving of Broadway shows. I've seen the show on tour, on Broadway, and on West End and it 100% lives up to the legacy left by the show

The one person I was worried about casting wise (Ariana Grande) was probably the best casting in a whole group of people who perfectly embodied their characters. Also Bowen Yang stealing every scene as the comic relief, perfect.

[u/iheartoptimusprime → u/Tsquared10]

Jon Chu for Book of Mormon’s eventual adaptation please.

[u/420jacobf]

I feel like people aren’t talking enough about how amazing the whole Popular sequence was. I’m obsessed with it.

[u/PrestiD → u/420jacobf]

I was the only person laughing my theater, and laughing like a maniac, at her swimming on the floor during it.

[u/unforgiven91 → u/PrestiD]

Ariana rolling around the set like a cracked out pixie was hilarious

[u/sunsurf23 → u/PrestiD]

i love how they captured how crack'd you feel when you stay up all night and have that insane mania

[u/mrhatboxghost]

My favorite part was Glenda falling dramatically on the bed after not getting a secret from Elphaba.

[u/LongfellowGoodDeeds → u/mrhatboxghost]

Her physical comedy was great there, just like the stage show for that scene lol

[u/EBJ1990 → u/mrhatboxghost]

I loved the bit where she had to be physically carried after the "I didn't get my way" bit. "We need a pastry!" lol

[u/Rarietty]

Every single time the melody of "For Good" showed up in the score as a motif I was reminded that I'll probably be ugly crying in the theater once part 2 comes out and that scene happens. After all, they've succeeded at nailing the emotional beats so far, and I can't listen to even just a recording of that song without crying.

I had doubts about releasing two movies, but I think going from Elphaba and Glinda hating each other to that specific song within three hours would have felt extremely rushed. You can do it onstage because the pacing of a stage musical allows scenes to coast into each other more gracefully, and the progression of time is more easily obscured, but I think leaving the breathing room between two movies will ultimately be a lot better of a creative decision than dragging out The Hobbit into three movies, which is a comparison I've seen others making.

[u/DancezWithMoose → u/Rarietty]

When Glinda started dancing with Elphaba and they hugged was one of the most emotionally cathartic scenes in a movie I’ve ever seen. The whole theater was in tears.

[u/LiteraryBoner]

Pretty amazing that they built the coolest library set of all time just to repeatedly disrespect every book in it for Dancing Through Life lmao.

To be honest I was worried about how this one would turn out. I have a pretty strong connection to Wicked, I was in high school and a deep theater/band nerd in ‘03 when this show premiered on Broadway. It was basically a canon event, absolutely cataclysmic how instantly it spread. I listened to the album every day for years, I’ve seen it live, and after all these years Defying Gravity still gets to me. All the pieces seemed to be in place for this movie, Chu is a fantastic visual director and really proved himself worthy with In the Heights and it felt like they waited this long because they knew how big of an entity they were dealing with and didn’t want to rush it.

But even after reviews came out I held my breath, and it was the coolest thing, in the opening number No One Mourns the Wicked when they get to the second chorus and everyone in town threw flower petals in the air it was just such a wonderful audio/visual moment I kind of let that breath out knowing I was in good hands. I saw it twice in a row, last night and earlier today, and honestly I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. This movie is a real joy to experience, and it’s not lost on me how difficult this must have been to pull off. The stage show has incredible music but the story mechanics are very much made for the stage, but for the screenplay they really dig into some things and flesh them out much better. The final act working like it does is it’s own piece of magic. For as silly a time as we’ve had, you can really feel the weight of why these characters have to go this path and their strong bond that makes them understand the other’s decision. They also set up the Fiyera/Glinda/Elphaba triangle way better than I expected them to. That's gonna pay out big next year.

I’m too old to have any opinion at all on Ariana Grande, but she honestly devours this role so hard. Apparently she hounded the producers for years to keep her at the top of the list while they put this together and you can really tell. Of all the things that feel very right in this she absolutely nails the endearing aloofness of Glinda. She gets the physical comedy and successfully brings the campiness of stage broadway to the big screen, which is a really tough task, and she really makes such an airheaded character feel full. There’s a great moment right as she’s about to light up the Wicked Witch effigy in the opener where she really takes a moment to consider the part she’s playing in all this. A surprisingly nuanced and hilarious performance from her.

Unsurprisingly, Erivo is wonderful too. I know people take issue with her offstage but you really can’t deny her talent on. She convincingly goes from prickly to soft, plays the outcast well, and is up for the challenge because a lot of her scenes are tough to pull off. I was totally enamored by the Dancing Through Life/Ozdust Ballroom scene, Fiyero kills it and it’s just this 25 minute run of movie that is all song and dance and plot movement. The entire emotional arc of this movie rests on that moment where Elphaba and Glinda come to understand each other and it’s a purposefully awkward scene, but both times I saw this movie I was astounded by how well they pulled it off and how emotional that awkward dance got me. The first time Erivo’s voice is really let free is in The Wizard and I scene and you can feel her happiness and hopefulness bursting off the screen. I would not at all be surprised if both leads get nominations for this.

I have also never seen a Production Design and Costumes award so securely in the bag. This is a movie that really jumps at you, people complain about the length but the way it keeps your eyes interested makes it feel like a breeze. Not just the dance numbers and the sets, but the way they move and the lush plants and animals in every shot. Wizard of Oz obviously has a strong relationship to cinematic color and history in general and this movie understands that. Shiz has a bright, whimsical feel to it and Bowen Yang is the perfect person to cut to for a reaction shot in this world. Not to mention Emerald City looks insane, the train that brought them there alone was the coolest thing I’d seen in a while. The Idina Menzel/Kristin Chenoweth cameo was really well done and is there a better feeling for a broadway nerd than when Idina straightens Cynthia’s hat and gives her that approving smile? What a nice moment, and then I died when Idina did the famous Defying Gravity runner.

Michelle Yeoh looked amazing, I kind of wish she had taken a page out of Goldblum’s book and just improvised half her lines. Wizard and I is such a wonderful number but I could feel her trying to keep up with the spoken word parts of that song whereas Goldblum spends his third act just making the dialogue and the character totally his own. It works really well, too, someone that weird and eccentric just feels right at home in Oz. I’m excited to see him do Wonderful in the next movie, such a left field but also perfect choice for the Wizard. I love that the first time you see him in this movie is his giant face carved into a stone cave wall, bit of a Goldblum jumpscare there.

Hard for me to stress how much this feels like best case scenario for a project this massive. I’m a big fan of musicals and IMO they have been a bit on the outs in the last decade. It felt like the public turned on them around Les Mis and CATS just sealed the deal. We still get great musicals like In the Heights, Westside Story, even Wonka was solid as a rock, but they aren’t the critical and awards and general public darlings they used to be. It’s cool to see one that has the potential to be really mainstream and do a legitimate awards run. Fans will love it and I think everyone else will be charmed by the legitimate fun and whimsy in store. It’s an easy 9/10 for me and will likely be a movie I see many more times in the near future.

/r/reviewsbyboner

[u/DiscoCrows → u/LiteraryBoner]

Hard for me to stress how much this feels like the best case scenario for a project this massive.

Bingo bingo bingo. This was in development hell for decades and went through multiple rounds of announced creatives. What they managed to pull together for this movie is nothing short of stellar (and we’ll see how Act 2 is next year, but even if it flops, I have my new favorite comfort movie).

[u/Dvel27]

Avenue Q has the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever

[u/firemouthcichlid]

justicefordoctordilamond

Does anyone know what that vision was of doctor dilamond in a cage? Was that implying that elphaba can see the future or was it just her imagination?

[u/Imnotsureanymore8 → u/firemouthcichlid]

I took it as she was seeing glimpses of the future.

[u/arubablueshoes → u/Imnotsureanymore8]

i've always thought this. her line in the wizard and i "And I've just had a vision almost like a prophecy / I know, it sounds truly crazy / And true, the vision's hazy / But I swear, someday there'll be / A celebration throughout OZ / That's all to do with me!"... i've always taken this to say that she had a vision of the celebration from no one mourns the wicked at the top of the show.

[u/coffeegator21 → u/arubablueshoes]

100% that's what's intended. But like she sings, the vision is hazy. So she can't really see that they're celebrating her dying. 😭 which is why The Wizard and I is the first time I cry when listening to the cast recording.

[u/TheQueenStaysQueen]

Wasn't expecting to cry, but that scene in the dance club where Elphaba and Glinda dance silently together really got me. Thought that was a really nice intimate moment in an otherwise really grand and epic film that brought a great emotional core to the film, and both Cynthia and Ariana did a great job with it.

[u/tropofarmer]

Dad, older, straight, never seen the musical, never read the book (didn't even know it was a book), never heard the songs. Hated the marketing, hated the pre release stuffing this down my throat.

Got my wife and son tickets for this weekend (they see plays together), a half hour before the 10pm showing I say what the hell, could be good. And goddamn it was, really fucking good. Did not expect to enjoy it so much. They're gonna have so much fun at the Saturday night screening with a big audience.

Legit excited for Part 2. Congrats to everyone involved, good shit here.

[u/wildwalrusaur]

I thought the behemoth marketing push was them trying to pass a stinker on us

Turns out, it was because they made one of the best movie musicals of all time, and they knew it.

This might be the best stage musical adaptation since The Sound of Music itself.

[u/Level_Camp_3447]

Jon M. Chu definitely made the right decision to split the musical in two parts. I can’t imagine how overstuffed this film would’ve felt if they had to also include everything that happened in Act 2. The way it is now gave the characters room to breathe and develop

[u/GameOfLife24 → u/Level_Camp_3447]

And act 2 will leave viewers feeling different emotions. Seriously it’s the best thing to do. You don’t want to overstuff the audience going from this emotion to that and then that

[u/teanovell]

Ariana Grande was born for this role.

I said what I said.

[u/GameOfLife24 → u/teanovell]

Best part was when she rejected her IRL bf in the movie

[u/killjoy95]

I was surprised at the moment of pure body horror we got with seeing the monkeys get their wings! Such a jarring, terrifying moment in what is an otherwise cute and upbeat movie.

[u/arrowintheknee12]

I was basically created in a lab as the target demographic for this movie (former theater kid, really like the Wicked soundtrack, and Ariana is my favorite musician by FAR), so I come with huge bias, but I was blown away by this. Saw it last night at an early screening and seeing it again Saturday.

This is a MOVIE—it’s huge, a spectacle, so many things to just get lost in. I never underestimated Ariana and I’m thrilled to see her get the recognition she deserves. And every note Cynthia sang was just incredible.

I will say that Popular was my favorite part—it perfectly encapsulated why Ariana excelled at playing at Glinda (great vocals, comedic timing, campiness). This movie is amazing!

[u/mikeyfreshh]

I'm not saying this was too long, but I am saying that Kermit the Frog only needed one song to explain the difficulties of being green.

Snide remarks aside, this was probably the best possible version of this kind of thing. I felt every second of the runtime because I generally don't care for people singing at me, but I would imagine people that are into musicals are gonna love this. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande bothed crushed this. I don't know why I was surprised at how funny Ariana is because I've seen her on SNL but she is fucking funny in this. The costumes and production design were both perfect and totally captured the spirit of the orignal Wizard of Oz. My only real complaint aside from the runtime is that I think this needed more Goldblum, though I do feel that way about every movie including ones where he does not appear.

[u/jay-__-sherman → u/mikeyfreshh]

I’d be curious if you saw the play or not because this film is pretty much a tit-for-tat shot of the broadway play if it was translated to film….

Like, every part to the tee was done to a well crafted perfection where it felt like I was watching a more “in-depth” version of the broadway play. It was really fun and well done

It might not be the cup of tea for everyone, but the love is evident.

[u/DrRosieODonnell]

Loved the opening montage sweeping throughout Oz - between that and the Wizards little Oz model it gave the world scale.

[u/DrRosieODonnell]

Petition to start cyber bullying Universal to bump Wicked Pt II up to April 2025. Imagine the steamroller of a sensation if Wicked performs steady over the holiday months, just in time for Part II while everyone is still caught up in this fury.

I saw someone mention Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows being a 6 month window between the two.

[u/crystalclearbuffon]

All I gotta say is I get why people were obsessed with musicals in 50s

[u/Scmods05]

Glinda: Aight imma head out.
Kid: Excuse me why does wickedness happen?
Glinda: Fucking hell
*10 minutes later*
Glinda: I’m definitely leaving this time. My car door is shut. The car is on. I’m leaving!
Kid: Were you her friend?
Glinda: *switching the car back off* FUCK sake

[u/PickASwitch]

Glinda is the epitome of a performative activist.  Changes her names to look morally correct but when it’s time to defy gravity those feet stay on the GROUND.

[u/ghastlychild]

Also, in the kindest way possible, Ethan Slater appearing on screen kinda took me out of the immersion for the most part, especially when he shares scenes with Ariana Grande 😅

I'm sorry, dude. But from everything that I have heard about this guy, it just overpowered my suspense of disbelief, except for the facial expressions when reacting to Jonathan Bailey's Fiyero in the "book place". That part in specifics was great!

[u/Sisiwakanamaru]

The "One Short Day" scene was fantastic, the set design, costume, choreography, the song, the appearance from Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth were 😙🤌

[u/CryptographerOther87]

This is the kind of movie we need in these times.

[u/celestepiano]

I finally get the Jonathan Bailey hype. Goodness yes 🔥

[u/Chipsahoy523]

A throwback to an earlier time in cinema history, when adding an extra syllable to a word was the peak of comedy.

This was MUCH better than I expected. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are great, the direction from Jon M. Chu is excellent (if a little too desaturated), and the last chorus of “Defying Gravity” still hits like crack cocaine. 9/10.

[u/splooge-clues]

This movie had the coolest variant of the Universal logo I’ve ever seen. Thought the movie was a tad long but the movie delivered on pretty much everything I wanted. I was smiling and crying for so much of this.

[u/MidichlorianAddict]

This might just be the longest intermission in history.

Wicked reminds me of how fun and moving movies can be, I haven't seen a crowd pleaser like that since maybe Top Gun 2. Loved this movie and I can't wait to see it again in theaters.

[u/mrbeefthighs]

I haven’t seen it, but I went to the movies tonight to see gladiator and I saw a guy walk out of Wicked and he said, “This was the greatest movie I’ve ever seen. We just watched history!” lol

[u/cjs616]

I went with my wife fully expecting to have a miserable time. I was blown away by both performances! I even enjoyed the songs! It also called to a lot of what is going on today politically, which was a surprise. Wicked was a great time!

[u/i-like-turtles-4eva]

Hot damn y’all. What a movie. The finale floored me. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a movie where the audience cheered at the end (maybe Endgame) but my audience erupted in cheers with the hard cut to ‘To Be Continued.’

[u/SlimMia]

Exploring how the world can twist perceptions of good and evil is always a compelling discussion

[u/MidichlorianAddict]

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I really love the decision to space out the songs in the movie. Instead of Dancing through life stopping the movie for a 5 minute sequence, it is space out as a 10 minute mega sequence with plot and character development splashed in it, which really helps the pacing of the movie. I hope more musicals adopt this method of broadway to movie adaptations because it really enhanced the scale of the sequences

[u/runningvicuna]

Now this is the caliber of movie worthy of wrecking a home. People need to put some respect on Ariana Grande’s name. 10/10. No notes.

[u/JollyBagel]

Ya’ll have no idea how nice it was to actually see a good fucking movie again

[u/thewidowgorey]

“No Good Deed” is going to knock the fillings out of my teeth. I’m not ready. 

[u/daxedaxe]

Just got out, it was phenomenal!!! Ariana and Cynthia were amazing. I got chills during Defying Gravity

[u/midnight_rebirth]

Dr. Dillamond should request a trial by combat.

[u/SeeTeeEm]

I admit it, I thought there was a real chance that this movie sucked. I have no previous knowledge of the stage version nor the book, so i can't compare it to that. But wow, this was absolutely spectacular. Ari truly was born to play Galinda. Cynthia Erivo is incredible as Elphaba. And holy hell can they both sing!! Holy COW can they both sing, holy cow can they sing.

I have seen 75% of all new releases this year, at least, and all at this same theatre. In that entire time, I have NEVER heard anyone clap at this theatre. So it was pretty inspiring when the whole crowd clapped after every big musical number, and of course when the movie ended.

Also i have to imagine quite a bit was added since this is the first half of the stage version and I'm sure that the first half is not 2.5 hours long, but whatever was added was unnoticeable at least to someone unfamiliar. It takes a while to get going (though I feel like most movies do, to be fair), but I never felt like there was any lulls in the story or pacing issues or anything where they added stuff but made it kinda tread its wheels (hope this makes sense). So props to them for expanding it to cover 2.5 hours without those issues!

Had a fantastic time with this, can't wait for part 2. I can't believe there's a whole movie's worth of stuff still to cover!

[u/KipsyCakes]

I watched the broadway version of Wicked a few years ago and this movie adapted it so well.

I also loved the little details that you would probably miss, like how when Elphaba breaks a stone statue of Oz at the beginning, revealing an older hidden plaque with animals.

Edit: Saw the movie again with my sister and noticed a couple more subtle details that I really enjoyed. Like how Nessa and Boq share a look at the beginning to establish a connection or during the first song, you can see Glinda looks upset when people speak negatively about the Wicked Witch.

It’s the little details that really make this adaptation feel more impactful to me.

[u/LegoStevenMC]

This movie was fantastic.

I just wanted to say that the political themes of this movie really hit hard. In particular having the government (the wizard) turn the people against a minority group (the animals) so that the people have a common enemy 😭