Adapting broadway plays and musicals into film is no means a small feat. You not only have to go big with the setpieces and key songs of the live show in question, but also remember that it’s a visual medium that conveys its tale with less words and more action. Which is perplexing as to why most of them aren’t good films-2012 Les Misérables and 2019 Cats adaptation- when they can take notes and even borrow elements from 90s “renaissance” Disney films -which are already big-budget musicals in film form to begin with. One must embrace the camp and theatrics of the art form while presenting it in the best film-savvy way possible; telling its story while balancing the grand spectacle of the key song.

The adaptation of the Stephen Schwartz-led hit broadway musical Wicked, titled Wicked: Part 1 (whose subtitle we’ll comment on later), is at least doing its best to be a coherent film for non-fans of the previous show. At the very least, there are a few hurdles this time around to fully enjoy what is essentially The Wizard of Oz Zero/Alpha with bombastic musical numbers and a look at the fantastical world of L. Frank Baum but with a different lens.

Getting Them Pretties

Right from the opening which completely spoils the ending of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, Wicked: Part 1 tells the story of how the Wicked Witch of the West came to be. Way before the fateful battle from that 30s film, we get to see the origin story of ex-evil witch with green skin Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) as she ends up going to magic academy Shiz to take care of her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode), and bunking in with then-ditzy popular girl-striving-so-hard-to-be-a-sorceress Galinda (Ariana Grande). The duo of Elphaba and Galinda hate each other at first, but grow to be friends, but not without a worldly turmoil involving speaking animals being segregated from humans in the way. There’s also the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and his Emerald City, which is what Elphaba is trying to aim for with her magic skills so that she can get her heart’s desire. 

This being a 2-part musical, it really goes without saying that director Jon M.Chu and his team have the thankless task of making Act 1 into a 2-hour and 40 minutes film. For the most parts, he made it work. The structure of Act 1 is already laid out fine, so it’s just a matter of presenting it in movie form with lavish setpieces and fun camerawork, which is well done. This is clearly a big-budget Universal Pictures work, so great care is done to make it as glitzy like the Broadway original.

The highlights of this Wicked adaptation are the lead actors who carry the entire film: Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Galinda. Right as soon as they clash with each other and eventually become friends, with good musical numbers to alleviate the story and narrative between the two, it’s clear as day that the director and crew picked wisely. Erivo’s combination of stoicness and shyness via Elphaba contrasts well with Grande’s perky and up-front Galinda, both of them teaching each other a thing or two and also gelling well from their antagonistic start to the final few minutes of the film.

Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum are just playing hammed-up versions of themselves as Madam Morrible and The Wizard respectively, though that’s not entirely a bad thing as both actors have charisma and presence whenever on-screen. There isn’t a dull time to be seen & experienced in everybody’s performances; even Peter Dinklage’s voicework for goat professor Dr. Dillamond stands out despite the short screentime.

And what would the show be without the actual other highlight: the music. All of it from “Popular” to the “Dancing Through Life” to the real reason people remember Wicked fondly -“Defying Gravity” – are given the best silver screen treatment with its presentation and the power of the medium. Choreographed dances, lovely setpieces and practical works (sans CGI animals), powerful singing especially from Erivo and Grande: all of it is worth putting up the slow pacing of the first hour or so. Because goddamn, the film takes quite a while before we get to the Elphaba and Galinda standoffs & eventual partnership.

Clicks Like Two Heels Together 

Wicked: Part 1 is entertaining and grand despite its unnecessary runtime length. The main cast is stellar and have chemistry, the visuals and art direction are spectacular without being gaudy, and most of the story and narrative are paced well. Barring some odd direction and additional length to a film that could use an hour less of screentime, my only other concern is what part 2 will bring to the table. Part 1 is, without spoiling anything, essentially the majority of the musical that fans remember and care about. So you know a straight-up adaptation of The Wizard of Oz is imminent, with parts of Wicked’s second act stitched in for that eventual 2-hour-and-40 minute runtime or even 3.

But that’s an emerald bridge to cross another time. For now, let this first half of The Wizard of Oz Alpha put a musical spell on you.

Final Score: 80/100