#review: Is Act I of Wicked worth a watch?

With Wicked: Act I in theatres now, David Ho gets on the yellow brick road to Oz to see if the film promises a wickedly good time  

From novel to musical and now a two-part feature film, Wicked: Part I has arrived to enchant moviegoers with its songs and revisionist take on the characters and events in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. 

Wicked lifts the lid on the side of the story not told. For those not familiar, the story centres on the origins of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West (fun fact: her name is derived from the initials of The Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum). The show uses her journey to show that things are never quite what they seem when history is written by the victors. 

The performances here are fantastic. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shine in their roles as Elphaba and Galinda and share great chemistry. The two also absolutely devour the songs, which is all the more impressive when one realizes the singing was recorded live. It’s hard enough to hit the notes in “Defying Gravity” standing up, let alone when one is tossed 360-degrees around on strings riding a broom.    

The supporting cast are also strong, with Jonathan Bailey on full charm offensive as the roguish Prince Fiyero with a fondness for tight velvet pants and Saturday Night Life’s Bowen Yang providing the giggles as one of Galinda’s sassy social hanger-on.  

The silver screen adaptation makes use of the medium of film to pack a stronger emotional punch for certain scenes that is harder to do when watching a theatre production, whether it’s Elphaba and Galinda’s tender moment at a dance or when they come to terms with each other’s different world views. Erivo’s “The Wizard and I” benefits greatly from the film’s scenery that gives it a more grandiose feeling. Grande’s performance of the musical’s opening number “No One Mourns the Wicked” also has a more palpable (but still subtle) undercurrent of grief, thanks to her interpretation and the shot angles. 

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The movie magic also helps with the magic within the story, as we see Elphaba’s powers in a way that would be impossible to replicate in a live theatre show. Other film specific changes, like the move from a classroom setting to a secret animal meeting instead for “Something Bad”, enhances the song. The movie's expansion on Elphaba's childhood is also a welcome addition.  

While it would have been easy to lean in extensively on CGI for the elaborate world building, director Jon M. Chu’s insistence on realistic sets gives the world a more tangible feel. The fields of flowers one sees around the Munchkin Village consists of 9 million tulips planted just for the film. It’s a refreshing and wonderful change from the barebones desert/space backdrops that greenscreen heavy Marvel superhero films have subjected audiences to. The practical props add to the wonders of the film, be it the elaborate machinations that Jeff Goldblum shows off as the Wiz or bad boy Bailey’s memorable dance break in the library surfing on actual books. 

An established piece of work like the Oz universe wouldn’t be complete without some Easter eggs for its long-time fans. The cameos by Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth, the original Elphaba and Galinda on Broadway, are certain to delight theatre kids everywhere. The shoes given to Elphaba’s sister Nessarose, which would eventually be worn by Dorothy Gale, are true to the 1900 book as they are silver but presented in a ruby box as a nod to the 1939 film with Judy Garland that had ruby slippers instead. A contemporary twist is added by costume designer Paul Tazewell with the tornado detail on the heels.

That said, the film is not without flaw. Though we have much love for Michelle Yeoh, her singing can very much be likened to her character’s name - Madame Morrible. The two-hour forty-minute runtime may also be a bit much for some, especially with some parts that are slower. The finale while powerful, also feels a bit more stretched out than needed.  

While the Wicked publicity run has had some rocky moments, from the scrutiny on Grande’s relationship with a co-star to Erivo’s overreaction to fanart on social media, the final product has overcome any reservations by being a triumphantly good project that defies expectations (and gravity).   

With Act II of the movie coming out in November 2025, this is going to be one long intermission. Act I sets a high bar for Act II to follow, but we are looking forward to the viewing parties to come. 

Verdict: Wicked is one of the better musical-to-movie adaptions by a long shot so go see it. 

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