Director Jonathan M. Chu lifts the curtain on Wicked: For Good for the last time with spellbinding ambition.
Hot on the heels (no ruby slippers here) of last year's Wicked: Part One, which featured Oscar-nominated turns from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba, the sequel proves that scriptwriters Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox still have Oz-piration in the tank.
With no rainbows in sight, the politically charged tale dives into the dark machinery of propaganda and the winding path to personal redemption.
What does it mean to be 'good’? Part Two explores that very question. Exiled and demonised as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba struggles in the shadows, trying to expose the truth she knows about The Wizard (a very slick Jeff Goldblum), while Glinda basks in fame and admiration in her rosy Emerald City bubble courtesy of Madame Morrible (a tremendous Michelle Yeoh).
Just like the under construction Yellow Brick Road, the film’s CGI needs more cement (the poor Scarecrow), but the moment our two leads share the screen, every rough edge and digital wobble fades into insignificance.
Erivo hits all the right notes, and plenty of the high ones, bringing a commanding, magnetic Elphaba to life. Grande somehow tops her first outing, spinning her trademark comedic sparkle into a bewitching performance.
The supporting cast returns in fine form. Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero offers thoughtful lines on beauty, Marissa Bode’s Nessarose adds warmth and depth in the movie's quieter moments, and Ethan Slater’s Boq remains endearingly likeable as a pining Munchkin.
Act II lacks the soaring, show-stopping numbers that made last year’s outing so popular, but Stephen Schwartz’s new compositions - Elphaba’s stirring No Place Like Home and Glinda’s reflective Girl in the Bubble - are catchy enough to make it onto your playlist.
Oscar-winning designer, Paul Tazewell, once again delivers intricately curated symbol-laden costumes. From Elphaba’s nature-inspired coats to Glinda’s butterfly-adorned gowns, every stitch reflects meticulous craftsmanship.
A brief appearance by Dorothy Gale, heroine of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, hints at a connection between the franchise’s latest offering and the broader Oz narrative, a nod longtime fans will appreciate.
A few clock ticks later - 298 minutes to be exact - the Wicked saga triumphantly draws to a close with heart and courage.
