I can’t emphasise enough how surprised and blown away I was with Ariana Grandes performance. I’ve been a huge fan of Erivo’s since Bad Times at the El Royale and knew she was going to nail it but I did not know that Grande had this in her . I’m not talking vocally because I have ears and have heard her sing but it’s the largely comedic performance which really won me over .Id seen the musical earlier in the year and even though I wasn’t blown away I appreciated it but apart from defying gravity I didn’t walk away wanting to listen to the songs again . 
This time around the songs popped out a lot more . about the time Jonathan Bailey who I only knew from PWB’s criminally under seen Crashing comes into the movie it took off for me .  He and Grande were so good together and I loved their chemistry. 
Yes it’s a little overstuffed but you don’t really feel the run time . Although it was only when either two of trio of Erivo Grande or Bailey were on screen did it really soar and man this thing soars at times . 
The climatic scenes where Elphaba transforms into the Wicked Witch whilst singing Defying Gravity is breathtakingly amazing and I think that’s a large reason why the scores are so high because you really walk out on a high . 
I don’t agree that the movie just ends because it a part one I think that scene just like in the musical is such a climatic experience it’s a perfect way to end part one . 
Also the emotion that Erivo brings to the whole movie is incredible and I hope she gets all the recognition Grande does . Their scene at the end where they know they have to go down their different paths is truly heartbreaking and I was actually moved to tears by it . 
I’ve already messaged my daughter to tell her that I’ll go see it again with her since 24 hrs after I’m still on a bit of a high .