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Kelaru & Fulton rating: ★★★★
Runtime: 2hrs 40mins
2024 is officially the year of the musical. With so many released this year (Back to Black, Bob Marley: One Love, Joker: Folie à Deux, Emilia Perez, etc.), I was already feeling “musical fatigue” before walking into Wicked. And I went in completely blind—not only to the film but also as someone who hasn’t read the book or seen the play.
The cultural impact of the stage production was immediately apparent. At a Saturday 5 PM showing, the cinema was packed with little girls dressed as princesses, witches and even as the wizard himself. It was heartwarming to see, and a nice reminder that cinema can still draw a crowd.
Now that I’ve seen it, I can confidently say THIS is a musical—the kind that makes the rest pale in comparison. Wicked is a full-blown spectacle with elaborate musical numbers, hundreds of dancers, and sets that feel purpose-built for the music. The actors don’t just sing; they belt out full songs, and at times dialogue flows seamlessly into music, with back-to-back numbers reminiscent of Chicago, Moulin Rouge, La La Land, and Les Misérables. That’s high praise because Wicked stands toe-to-toe with those classics—if not surpassing them—with more soul and a lot more pink.
For those unfamiliar with the story (living under a rock since 1995, perhaps), Wicked explores the backstory of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. Played masterfully by Cynthia Erivo, Elphaba is born green and is accepted to Shiz University, where she faces ridicule and bullying from her peers—chiefly the ultra-popular and self-absorbed Glinda (Ariana Grande). What begins as a rivalry between the two turns into a heartfelt story of friendship, identity, power, and corruption, wrapped in one of the most visually dazzling productions I’ve seen in a long time.
This is an unabashedly joyful film. There’s maybe a 20-minute stretch where the tone dips into something darker, but overall, it’s a bright, fun, and thoroughly engaging experience. The target audience—primarily little girls—will adore it, but the accompanying parents won’t leave disappointed either. Beneath the glitter and vibrancy, the film weaves themes of social justice and satire, along with old-school comedy and memorable music.
The film’s heart, though, is the chemistry between its two leads, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Erivo’s Elphaba and Grande’s Glinda create an electric dynamic, their performances feeling almost like a perfectly choreographed dance. Every scene they share is brilliant, with neither overshadowing the other. It’s a pairing that works so well, it’s hard to imagine Wicked Part 2 replicating the same magic if the story splits them apart.
Surrounding this incredible duo are the stunning sets, most of which were physically built rather than relying on green screen. This choice makes the world of Wicked feel grounded and immersive, even in its fantastical setting. That said, the colour palette can feel overwhelming at times—saturated with bright pinks and greens, with little relief from darker or more subdued tones. While it’s consistently cheerful and visually engaging, a touch of balance might have helped. Still, every frame is packed with something to intrigue the eye, whether it’s fantastical creatures, intricate sets, or whimsical machinery.
Despite its 2-hour-and-40-minute runtime, Wicked flies by, thanks to its sheer entertainment value. I fully expect it to be a major contender at this year’s Oscars, especially in categories like Best Music, Visual Effects, and Production Design. The real question is how the Academy will handle the performances of Erivo and Grande, both of whom deliver equally excellent work. While the Cannes Festival and Critics Choice Awards have frequently shared awards between two actresses, the Academy has only done so once, back in 1969 (Katherine Hepburn for The Lion in the Winter and Barbara Streisand for Funny Girl). Although the film may not be the best of the year, I’m rooting for both Erivo and Grande to win this time.