Wicked: For Good, based on Act II of the Broadway musical, begins where the previous film left off and proves itself to be a fitting sequel. Anyone who was a fan of the first movie’s vibrancy will not leave the theater disappointed. Through the incredible performances and show-stopping vocals from the leading cast which includes Broadway legend Cynthia Erivo and global popstar Ariana Grande, beautiful scenic design, and impressive costume design by Paul Tazewell, all of the original magic of the first film is maintained and built upon.
That said, the film has its flaws, mainly involving pacing. Wicked: For Good runs for approximately two hours, twice the length of the movie’s source material, which gives the movie the opportunity to expand upon it. The film chooses to do this throughout the middle of the film and with the addition of two new songs, “The Girl in the Bubble” and “No Place Like Home,” respectively sung by leads Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. While both songs display their singer’s vocal talents, they fail to actually contribute to Glinda and Elphaba’s story. “No Place Like Home” follows Elphaba as she attempts to inspire the animals of Oz, and the scene proves itself to be rather forgettable. Despite having impactful lyrics, the song ends up getting cut off partway through, discarding the very message of persistence that the song attempts to convey.
The movie’s filler also ends up sidelining parts of the character arc for both of the leads, particularly Elphaba. While the musical’s second act beautifully displays the way that both characters mature and change over the course of the story, the film struggles to do the same. The story tends to lose its momentum around the midway point as each of the characters’ growth is paused in pursuit of a longer runtime, making the segment a less enjoyable watch.
Despite this, the parts where the movie gets its timing right are phenomenal. The final act finds the footing that the rest of the film couldn’t, cutting to the very heart of the story. One of the best moments of the film was Cynthia Erivo’s performance of “No Good Deed,” a song that shows Elphaba’s descent into the role of The Wicked Witch of the West. Not only is Erivo a vocal powerhouse, but her performance shows just how Elphaba was thrown into her situation and the effects the previous events have had on her. This portrayal both during and after this scene is a true highlight of the entire duology and answers the question posed in the first film: “Are people born wicked or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” “For Good,” the final duet between Glinda and Elphaba, also serves as a particularly strong number. It shows just how much the characters matured as so much goes both said and unsaid in the two character’s final goodbye. In the end, these stronger sections find themselves supporting the weaker midpoint in a way that creates a beautiful adaptation of Wicked’s story.