Somewhere over the rainbow there exists a magnificent movie version of Gregory McGuire’s 1995 wonderfully revisionist, not to mention delightfully feminist, fantasy novel “Wicked.” Alas, Jon M. Chu’s big, bland, and bloated journey through the glittering land of Oz is not it, my pretties.
The two-part, $320 million film adaptation thoroughly lacks the pluck and spirit of the blockbuster Broadway musical, which made its debut in San Francisco in 2003. As a longtime theater critic, I hate to pour a bucket of water on this almost-three-hour movie adaptation. But despite its undeniable star power.
this empty-headed screen adaptation melts in the imagination. Pop singer Ariana Grande does indeed sparkle as Galinda, the soon-to-be Good Witch, and she’s certainly a superb hair flipper, but she lacks sassiness and there’s zilch chemistry between her and the green goddess Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) as two college frenemies who grow into the mythical witches of lore. Erivo is suitably likable as the hated Elphaba but there’s no sign of a formidable power lurking within.
A lot of the plucky numbers sputter. Grande’s cutie-pie wardrobe is a real stunner, a cheeky cross between Elle Woods style and Barbie couture that fills you with an inexplicable and deep yearning to wear more pink. For all the film’s weaknesses, Paul Tazewell’s gorgeous costumes are so sharply on point they draw blood.
Let’s not even talk about Glinda’s obsession-worthy assortment of shoes. The fem.
