hyeristorm’s review published on Letterboxd:
✨💚🫧🩷✨
SOMETHING HAS CHANGED WITHIN ME
SOMETHING IS NOT THE SAME
✨💚🫧🩷✨
WTAF. I did not expect to bawl my eyes out like that!
Absolutely stunning, amazing, splendiferous stuff! I am as “musically-neutral” as they come, and this blew me away. I did not expect to enjoy it THIS much, as it was exactly the crowd-pleasing big blockbuster production that I was in the mood for AND more. John M. Chu has done a magnificent job helming this and made a masterpiece on-screen. What an achievement!
I’ve yet to see the musical live. A few years back there were plans to, but no excuse why it never materialised. I’ve heard a couple of songs and know it to take place before The Wizard of Oz. (Although hilariously, I forgot, so thank you to the opening sequence for the reminder, lol.) I’ve never been impressed with theatre > screen, as it’s never felt right or been done right. Spielberg’s West Side Story came close, but it wasn’t quite my jam (nothing against it, just personal preference!).
Then came Wicked.
✨💚🫧🩷✨
HEARTS LEAP IN A GIDDY WHIRL
[THE THEATRICAL PRODUCTION VALUES]
🫧🪅🖤
This was an unplanned, unintended, and unexpected cinema trip. I wasn’t interested at first, but boy am I glad I changed my mind! Wicked was sensational. It’s as realistically theatre-like in the experience as it gets! Although it was riddled with production delays, it’s a relief they could take the time. It is overflowing with love in the process of making Wicked and a deep understanding of the theatre technicalities.
The set design, costume, colours, and their own take on Emerald City were brilliant. That spinning library complex was another favourite of mine. Also, if they ever create Galinda’s pop-up vanity boxes, sign me up! A special shoutout to Michael Yeoh’s gowns, looking as legendary and ethereal as always. She’s also excellent as Madame Morrible.
I would too purchase one of their gold-laced spectacles. The hairstyling and makeup were beautiful, and also, is that a {r.e.m. beauty} makeup brush? (Maybe not.) My only qualm is it does go a little ham on the CGI in places, but it’s not “terrible”-terrible. Occasionally garish but not distracting. I mean, those monkeys terrified me…
Casting? Perfect. NO NOTES. I thought everyone was fantastic and put their own spin on their characters, which made it feel fresh. I loved how even the side characters had their moments too. Funnily enough, there was a moment when my mum whispered “when is The Fly coming out”. The Fly, aka Mr Goldbum himself and his entrance was worth the wait!
✨💚🫧🩷✨
UNADULTERATED LOATHING
TO UNLIMITED TOGETHERNESS
[GRANDE AND ERIVO TRIUMPH]
🫧👸🧙♀️
Dear Cynthia Erivo, where do I start? I’ve loved Enrivo in her non-musical roles, although she did sing in Bad Times at the El Royale. Erivo as Elphapa is again PITCH-PERFECT. She brought me to tears with her pipes. Her voice is astonishingly clear and magnificent. Trust me, Erivo defies gravity. Her performance is understated and articulate, but don’t mistake that for a lack of screen presence. Oh, Erivo IS present! I didn’t need exposition to understand Elphapa, as Erivo gave me depth from her eyes and mannerisms.
My heart is bursting with warmth for Ariana Grande, who has finally played the role of Galinda—a dream she’s had since a child. She is a DELIGHT. I love Grande’s comedic chops, playing into Galinda’s goofier side. Galinda is vain and privileged, but I never felt annoyed by her antics. Grande plays her with such enthusiasm and self-awareness, so I find her adorably endearing. Grande BECAME and IS Galinda. Also, her line delivery cracked me up. Fiyero was distant as he started to think. (HA, same girl 🤣)
Grande and Erivo together is a joy of all joys. These women have such admiration and respect for each other, and it shows so much in their partnership on AND off screen. I love seeing them become each other’s “hype gals," and their voices melt into each other. No one is overtaking the other, and both have their moments to shine too. It got me teary to see them silently dance with each other. I am DYING to see more of them!
✨💚🫧🩷✨
I KNOW CLANDESTINELY,
YOU’RE GONNA GRIN AND BEAR IT,
YOUR NEWFOUND POPULARITY
[MUSICAL SPLENDOUR]
🫧🌿🪄
My thoughts about my favourite musical numbers:
🌸 One Short Day: two familiar faces will pop up here! It's probably one of my favourite movie cameos of recent.
📗I’m Not That Girl: I ached for Erivo’s velvety tones, and emotionally crackling that resonated through the song.
🌸 Dancing Through Life: Jonathan Bailey doing his thing, need I say more?
📗Defying Gravity: the BIG one, and it did NOT disappoint. This IS Erivo’s song, and alone is worth the price of admission. If I ever see this performed live, I might faint…
🌸Popular: despite my familiarity with it, Grande made it her own and honestly deserves an award nom for that performance alone.
What is happening?!
Is an inner theatre-kid being brought out of me?!?!
✨💚🫧🩷✨
WISHING ONLY WOUNDS THE HEART
I WASN’T BORN FOR
THE ROSE AND PEARL
[ANTICIPATION RISING IN THE INTERVAL]
🫧🎀🧹
My mother was displeased to see ‘Part 1’ tucked under “Wicked” in the title card, and neither of us can wait a YEAR to see the second part. This is testament to how phenomenal Wicked was for us to have such a good time AND make us impatient little munchkins. I’ve left this review fairly light on story spoilers, as unless you’ve already experienced Wicked, it’s worth going in blind. I didn’t expect to be this pleasantly surprised with the narrative twists, and the Oz nods!
It's without a doubt that I think experiencing it live on stage will be a different kind of sensational. However, I can't help but have so much hope for future theatrical to movie translations in the future. There is just so much joy exploding on screen, and from the two musicals I’ve ever seen in my life, I can’t help but feel an exuberance that only a theatre can bring. It is NOT easy to win over a NON-musical nut like me; I cannot stress on that enough.
My rating is 4.5–5 stars, but I’ve marginally knocked 0.5 as we have to wait for the second part! It’s not an ice cream break—it’s a YEAR. It was a good decision to end where it did, which is essentially when the curtains fall before the musical interval. I’m not spoiling what song it ends on, but it is a banger. It is magnificently sung, and the finale song would’ve broken the movie’s flow.
There were also a few plot threads that I think were intentionally left for it to continue in the follow-up. The supporting cast were excellent; I’m excited to see their storylines develop in the second part. I loved the overarching animal ostracisation plot and themes of tackling prejudice, so I’m hopeful for it to come together. Honestly, it didn’t feel overlong to me, as I think the time was needed for the world-building. Or at least, I found myself transported into the world of Oz and loved spending time there.
✨💚🫧🩷✨
STRANGE EXHILARATION
IN SUCH TOTAL DETESTATION
[CURTAIN CLOSING THOUGHTS]
🫧🪅🤍
Wicked has left me hugely appreciative of all the hard work and love that they’ve put into bringing it to the screen. Grande and Ervio have put all their souls into their roles, and I’m in awe. Who knows, I might’ve seen the production in London by the time Part 2 comes out… I’m now off to endlessly listen to the soundtrack, and I’m excited about a lil’ Wicked conflab in the office on Monday morning. This weekend has been a ✨wickedly✨ good one.
I am well and truly Glinda-fied.
(the ‘Ga’ is silent)
✨💚🫧🩷✨
——
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