IronWatcher’s review published on Letterboxd:
Watched in the cinema (190th visit in 2024)
Since its premiere in 2003, "Wicked" has been one of the absolute box office hits among musicals, selling out theaters worldwide. Indications that the movie "Wicked: Part One" is a musical - and in fact only the first of two parts - were few and far between in the run-up to the theatrical release and were not to be found in the trailer or in any other marketing. Apparently, there was a great fear of scaring off the audience in advance or simply suffering another "Cats", i.e. taking a colossal bath with a very successful musical in the cinema.
However, the movie certainly doesn't need such a fraudulent label. While "Cats" frightened audiences with gruesome computer effects, "Wicked" shows a lot of love for the world it depicts in every minute of the movie. This is also because despite the fantasy story - it is, after all, the prequel to the wicked witch from the classic film "The Wizard of Oz" - the decision was not made to rely entirely on computer effects, but rather to build a series of elaborate sets with astonishing details. These are styled down to the smallest detail and, with their steampunk-like design, provide an exciting contrast to the look of traditional fairy tale and fantasy films. The school library is particularly memorable, with its rotating round bookcases that are more gym than learning center, but with spectacular dance interludes and the rousing feel-good song by "Bridgerton" heartbreaker Jonathan Bailey, it is undoubtedly one of the film's absolute highlights.
Director Jon M. Chu has already proven with "In The Heights" that he can stage visually impressive and musically catchy musicals. Here, he can now go one better, not least thanks to the star-studded cast. Tony winner and Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo in the leading role and pop starlet Ariana Grande are particularly impressive, with the former having a convincing voice in an engaging outsider role and the latter playing the blonde ditzy girl in a congenial manner, not for the first time.
Of course, one might ask whether the story, which is not very complex in itself, really needed to be told in two films. Although the two-part story, released one year apart, allows the story to be expanded and embellished with further details and character moments, the movie does feel a little drawn out at times. It's also a shame that there wasn't enough room to give the storyline with the talking animals more space. It is also an unusual choice that the vocal numbers in particular were repeatedly shot with backlighting or in twilight, which is why colors sometimes appear somewhat washed out. Of course, this is criticism on a very, very high level. Part Two can't approach fast enough!
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