Spoiler alert: This review contains spoilers for “Wicked,” this film’s prequel.
The long-awaited finale to 2024’s “Wicked” is finally here. After a year of anticipation, “Wicked: For Good” is set to premiere Nov. 21 in theaters nationwide.
Debuting in November of last year, the first film was both a critical and commercial success, raking in over $750 million at the box office and receiving 10 nominations — and two wins — at the 97th Academy Awards. It would be expected for “Wicked: For Good” to achieve similarly high levels of success.
When audiences left theaters after the iconic riff in “Defying Gravity” last year, Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) was on the run from Ozian authorities after stealing the Grimmerie — an extremely powerful book of spells — from the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). “Wicked: For Good,” picks up five years after the first film, with viewers transported into an Oz that has only slipped further into authoritarianism.
Aided by the weather-controlling witch Madam Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) the Wizard has accelerated his plan to subjugate the animals of Oz, literally robbing them of their voices and forcing them to construct the infamous Yellow Brick Road. Meanwhile, Glinda Upland (Ariana Grande-Butera) — who changed her name in the first film to honor the imprisoned Dr. Dillamond (Peter Dinklage) — has reluctantly, yet also somewhat eagerly, become a mouthpiece for the Wizard. Prince Fiyero Tigelaar (Jonathan Bailey) now works as captain of the Wizard’s Guard in hopes of finding Elphaba, while Boq Woodsman (Ethan Slater) is lovingly trapped in Munchkinland by its new governor, Nessarose Thropp (Marissa Bode), Elphaba’s younger sister.
As expected, the tone of “Wicked: For Good” is much darker than that of the first film. The opening scene alone is a shift from the generally brighter mood of the first film, depicting animals forced to perform manual labor to fulfill the Wizard’s agenda.
The film’s darker themes contrast with its color palette, which is seemingly brighter than the prequel. Its prequel was criticized for its color grading, which some viewers lamented was too desaturated for an otherworldly setting. Director Jon M. Chu seems to have listened to these complaints, as the sequel’s vibrant colors mirror the technicolor world that the original “The Wizard of Oz” film first introduced in 1939. “Wicked: For Good” feels like the Oz audiences know and love, which is fitting as Dorothy’s (Bethany Weaver) adventure through the setting occurs during the last half of the film.
Surprisingly, the costumes in “Wicked: For Good” improve upon the ones in the first film, for which Paul Tazewell won an Academy Award. Yet despite the resounding success of the prequel, Tazewell somehow stepped up his game for the sequel. The costumes in the movie feature intricate detailing, making the world of Oz even more fantastical. Glinda’s wardrobe is stunning in particular, featuring an array of bedazzled and elaborate gowns. Even her relatively plain, white wedding gown perfectly complements the yellow butterflies that flutter around her as she walks down the aisle.
The cast’s vocals are also impeccable — for the most part — but the numbers in the second act don’t have the same draw as the first. Although the lyrical content of the songs are more touching, reflecting the deeper emotional landscape of the finale, it’s hard to surpass the comedic pull of “Popular” and “What Is This Feeling?” or the dramatic nature of “No One Mourns the Wicked” and “Defying Gravity” in the first film.
Nevertheless, “For Good” — the sequel’s namesake — is the most heartbreaking song across both films, replete with a split-screen shot emphasizing the deep connection between Elphaba and Glinda. “Wonderful” — which only featured the Wizard and Elphaba in the stage musical — now spotlights additional verses from Glinda, highlighting her complex relationship with Elphaba. The song also gives the Wizard a chance to — musically, at least — redeem himself after his sluggish “A Sentimental Man” number in the first film.
Still, no number in the film is more outstanding than “No Good Deed,” which serves as the highlight of Erivo’s performance as Elphaba. The character’s feelings of guilt and sorrow during the song are palpable, and Erivo’s singing intensifies this emotional aspect of the number, making it one of the most memorable moments of the entire film.
“Wicked: For Good” also adds two new songs not featured in the stage musical: “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble.” These songs flesh out the film’s plotlines, with the latter establishing Glinda as a complex character torn between remaining loyal to her friend and her role as a public figure, but sonically, they fall flat when compared to the second act’s original numbers. Both songs are eligible for Best Original Song at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, but it’s likely that they will be bested by a song from “KPop Demon Hunters,” which has taken the world by storm.
At two hours and 17 minutes long, “Wicked: For Good” is over double the length of the stage musical’s second act. But the ending moments of the film still feel somewhat rushed compared to the pacing of its predecessor. A runtime similar to the prequel, which was almost three hours long, would have given the writers an opportunity to add extra dialogue between the last few numbers, which all seem to blur together after “No Good Deed.”
Beyond this minor flub, the extra time does allow the film to address questions that are left unanswered in the stage musical. For example, the issues regarding animals’ rights are almost entirely abandoned in the stage musical after “Wonderful,” which is strange considering that it is one of the biggest plot points in the story. The film remedies this omission by having a more comprehensive resolution at the end of the film, tying up the loose ends ignored in the musical.
One of the biggest improvements of the film — and its extended runtime — is Glinda’s fleshed out character arc. Moments like “The Girl in the Bubble” and the film’s ending cement the complexity of Glinda’s character beyond the Broadway stage.
Adding to these improvements, Grande-Butera’s performance as Glinda is showstopping. She brings the same humorous element to Glinda seen in the first film, adding an aspect of unseriousness to even the most serious situations. Her portrayal also adds a layer of complexity to the character’s “popular kid” attitude. Grande-Butera’s depiction of Glinda’s internal conflict masterfully depicts her, not as a secondary villain or shallow social climber, but as a character who has the same emotional depth as Elphaba.
This will likely work in Grande-Butera’s favor at the upcoming Academy Awards, where she’s predicted to be nominated again for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Although initial critics’ reactions to this film have been less positive than for its prequel, Grande-Butera — who lost the award to Zoe Saldaña earlier this year — seems to be an early frontrunner in the category. But it’s still unknown whether her compelling performance as Glinda will propel her to victory, or if critics’ lukewarm reactions to the film will sink her chances of winning the Oscar. Regardless, the “Wicked” franchise is only Grande-Butera’s first major film role, and based on her recent comments, it seems that she’ll have many more chances at receiving the highest award in acting — and thank goodness for that.
Manav is a senior from Indiana, concentrating in International and Public Affairs. In his free time, he likes attempting the daily Connections puzzle or falling down Wikipedia rabbit holes.
