"Wicked: For Good" Falls Flat Despite Erivo's Stellar Performance
The highly anticipated sequel to the beloved musical "Wicked" finally arrived, and while it boasts a talented cast, including Cynthia Erivo as the Wicked Witch of the West, the film ultimately fails to deliver on its promise. Director Jon M. Chu's attempt to deconstruct the classic tale of "The Wizard of Oz" comes across as shallow and heavy-handed, sacrificing emotional resonance for cheap anti-fascist commentary.
Erivo shines in her role, bringing depth and nuance to a character often reduced to cartoonish villainy. Her performance is a highlight of an otherwise lackluster film that struggles to find its footing. The movie's themes of resistance against oppression are timely, yet the execution feels like a half-hearted attempt to tackle complex issues.
The plot is similarly underdeveloped, with key dramatic moments feeling forced and rushed. The love triangle between Elphaba, Galinda, and Prince Fiyero is particularly uninspired, lacking the tension and chemistry that made its stage counterpart so compelling. The songs, too, fail to impress, with only a few memorable numbers like "No Place Like Home" and "For Good" failing to elevate the film.
Perhaps the most egregious issue is the film's failure to respect the original material. By making Oz feel "ugly" and diluting its timeless magic, the creative team behind "Wicked: For Good" seems more interested in pushing an agenda than honoring the spirit of L. Frank Baum's classic tale. This approach feels like a misstep, undermining the very essence that made "The Wizard of Oz" so beloved.
Ultimately, "Wicked: For Good" is a shallow waste of cinematic resources, more concerned with delivering a message than crafting a genuine story. Despite Erivo's best efforts, the film falls flat, leaving audiences feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. Grade: D+.
The highly anticipated sequel to the beloved musical "Wicked" finally arrived, and while it boasts a talented cast, including Cynthia Erivo as the Wicked Witch of the West, the film ultimately fails to deliver on its promise. Director Jon M. Chu's attempt to deconstruct the classic tale of "The Wizard of Oz" comes across as shallow and heavy-handed, sacrificing emotional resonance for cheap anti-fascist commentary.
Erivo shines in her role, bringing depth and nuance to a character often reduced to cartoonish villainy. Her performance is a highlight of an otherwise lackluster film that struggles to find its footing. The movie's themes of resistance against oppression are timely, yet the execution feels like a half-hearted attempt to tackle complex issues.
The plot is similarly underdeveloped, with key dramatic moments feeling forced and rushed. The love triangle between Elphaba, Galinda, and Prince Fiyero is particularly uninspired, lacking the tension and chemistry that made its stage counterpart so compelling. The songs, too, fail to impress, with only a few memorable numbers like "No Place Like Home" and "For Good" failing to elevate the film.
Perhaps the most egregious issue is the film's failure to respect the original material. By making Oz feel "ugly" and diluting its timeless magic, the creative team behind "Wicked: For Good" seems more interested in pushing an agenda than honoring the spirit of L. Frank Baum's classic tale. This approach feels like a misstep, undermining the very essence that made "The Wizard of Oz" so beloved.
Ultimately, "Wicked: For Good" is a shallow waste of cinematic resources, more concerned with delivering a message than crafting a genuine story. Despite Erivo's best efforts, the film falls flat, leaving audiences feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. Grade: D+.
i'm so sorry to hear that "Wicked: For Good" didn't live up to your expectations 
cynthia erivo is literally the queen tho 
her performance was amazing, but it's not fair that the rest of the film couldn't match that level of talent 
. i get that you wanted a more nuanced take on the classic tale, but sometimes less is more, you know? 
and ugh, the love triangle felt so forced 
. anyway, erivo's performance was definitely worth watching alone 
. erivo is the only one who tries to bring some life to that messy plot. rest in peace, original story 
her performance would've carried the whole movie if the rest was better. The themes of resistance are cool but they felt really forced 
and like they were tacked on without much thought. Overall, a disappointing watch 
. it seems like they just wanted to slap some anti-fascist stuff in there and call it a day without putting any real effort into the story or characters. erivo's performance is def one of the only good things about this whole thing, but even she can't save it from being a mess 
. and don't even get me started on how they messed up the love triangle... it just doesn't feel right at all 
. i mean, what's next? trying to fix every classic movie by shoving in some woke commentary? 
and i'm still not over that love triangle 
, but even she can't save this film from its overall lack of depth 
. The whole thing feels like a shallow attempt to make some kinda statement 
instead of actually telling a good story 
. And don't even get me started on how they butchered the original tale 
...I mean, what's wrong with just letting it be? 
. On the bright side, if you're a die-hard Wicked fan, you might still enjoy some of the songs 
, but overall, it's just not worth your time 
. 
. Still, overall, I'd say it was just an okay movie... not the masterpiece I hoped for