Wicked For Good (2025)

Film Details

Director: Jon M. Chu

Run Time: 137 Minutes

Cast: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh

Synopsis

Now demonised as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba now lives in exile in the Ozian forest whilst Glinda resides at the palace in Emerald City.

My Review

One of the most highly anticipated films of the year, Wicked For Good transports us back to the world of Oz but unfortunately fails to live up to the heights of the first instalment. There is no denying that the sequel is still a visual and audible spectacle with incredible set design and a wonderful musical score, but I found the story to be an utter mess. Now I must admit, I’ve never been a fan of the 2nd act of the stage show either and my criticisms of that were only exacerbated as it was translated onto the big screen. The time jumps are incredibly jarring, Elphaba’s powers are super inconsistent and I find the motivations of the characters to be paper thin, lacking any real substance. At its core, the theme of oppression symbolised through the Ozian animals is undoubtedly strong but the silly decisions made by the characters in the name of ‘love’ do a disservice to that overarching narrative.

Ariana Grande was the shining light of the film, dropping another stellar performance as Glinda and the off screen chemistry with Cynthia Erivo ensures that the on screen relationship feels incredibly authentic, allowing the emotional moments to land nicely, especially towards the end of the film. But, I can’t help but feel disappointed, having thoroughly enjoyed the first film, which had a much more coherent narrative, it’s a shame the sequel couldn’t pack the same punch.

My Rating 5.8 out of 10

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