By Wil Wright
The Deal:
“Wicked: For Good” picks up where the first film left off, with Elphaba in exile, hunted for speaking truth; Glinda rising to fame as the beloved symbol of “good” in Oz under a corrupt regime; and as unrest swells, the old bonds between them get tested. As forces of power, propaganda and oppression close in on them, Elphaba and Glinda must reckon with their ideals, each other and what kind of future they want for Oz.
The problem is that this film doesn’t have the dynamic range or put in half of the work to make us care, in spite of some genuinely gorgeous musical moments.
Who is this movie for?
Let’s be honest: Nobody who saw the musical or the first film (and almost everyone saw one or both) is going to skip it. This film is especially for those who came for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande and for fans who don’t mind a darker, heavier version of Elphaba and Glinda’s story through to the end. If you go in wanting traces of the spectacle and energy of the first act, you might leave disappointed.
Is it fun?
Rarely. “Wicked: For Good” is largely serious, slow-paced and emotionally weighty. Rarely balancing itself with any sweetness or whimsy, it occasionally does find balance with action sequences. It sacrifices much of the playful/magical joy of the first film in favor of somberness and a more “earned” but heavy conclusion. The seriousness makes you long for the innovative choreography and playful camerawork that defined the first installment.
Do Ariana and Cynthia eat?
Yes. Erivo and Grande are spectacular throughout, but never more than in the scenes they share. Their vocal power, emotional resonance and onscreen chemistry are easily the heart of the movie. Again, this film can’t quite rise to the big moments of the first, but the leads do every bit of homework assigned to them. It would have been great to see some shine in the supporting cast, but no such luck.
Was a separate film necessary?
Nah. It’s easy to argue the story didn’t need to be stretched into a separate, full-length sequel – bringing the total runtime of the saga to almost six hours. The source material (the latter half of the musical) already felt thin and unmemorable, and the film struggles with padding, pacing issues and filler. On its own, “For Good” often feels at best like a good-enough sequel and, at worst, like a bloated cash grab. It never feels like a needed resolution, whereas the first film felt so beautiful and complete.
Should I wait to stream it?
If you felt at all casual about the first film, just wait to stream it. I can attest that the sing-along version of the first theatrical run was genuinely fun and increased the impact – but the darkness of this second installment might neuter that magic. So if you simply liked the first one, a regular 2D screening or short wait to stream will be better.
Final word:
If you weren’t dazzled by the first film, there’s absolutely no reason in the world to see this in a theater – if at all. Like a lot of folks, I really enjoyed the original for its dynamic range and monster vocal performances, and that was enough to carry me through this bloated backend of the story. I would’ve loved to see Chu and his team try to fit it all into one film.
