Defying Expectations: Wicked’s Emerald Return To The Big Screen
The much awaited Wicked movie adaptation has arrived and it does much more than live up to the expectations of the Broadway musical, it wickedly defies them. The film creates a newfound Wicked experience for the new generation, while at the same time, staying true to the original's timeless music and themes. From Ariana Grande’s angelic performance to Cynthia Erivo’s earth shattering vocals, the film exposes the complexities and double sidedness of a Utopian society such as Oz, while also emphasizing themes of ostracism, self, love, and empowerment.
The newly released film was the next best thing since Ariana Grande’s teenage stardom in Sam & Cat. As expected, Ariana Grande delivered vocally, disproving the claims that the directors made a mistake casting her over other actresses such as Selena Gomez or Dove Cameron. Grande once again showcased her various skills, reminding us that she will always be a triple threat. In particular, her rendering of the hit musical number “Popular” was spectacular, capturing Glinda’s sparkly yet desperate nature.
We cannot forget about Cynthia Erivo’s poster drama prior to the release of the film, where the promotional Wicked poster was edited to look more like the original Wicked poster, leading to an aggravated response from Erivo. “The original poster is an illustration,” Erivo stated.. “I am a real life human being, who chose to look right down the barrel of the camera to you, the viewer …because, without words we communicate with our eyes. Our poster is an homage not an imitation, to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me. And that is just deeply hurtful.” Erivo called out the edited poster and emphasized its defiance to the presence of representation and identity. However, Cynthia Erivo’s strong performance as Elphaba erased any lingering controversy about the change in the film’s advertising poster.
Once the film was released, all eyes and ears were fixed on Erivo’s earth-shattering vocals and passionate, emotional portrayal of Elphaba. Her portrayal brought a new perspective to the character as we saw a blend of the character's vulnerability along with her pride and strength. Jon M. Chu’s choice in casting an African American woman as the outcast sheds light on the reality for minorities in America. Erivo’s excellent performance as the underdog and outcast presents a relatable experience for those who have felt left out or excluded from their loved ones. Elphaba’s characterization through the film emphasizes the themes of exclusion, acceptance, self love, and power speaking out to those who have ever felt like an outcast or an outsider.
Chu’s directing followed a Durkheimian lens, a perspective centered on the importance of social structures, by signifying how society or different groups yearn to create solidarity by singling out another group or an individual such as Elphaba. The bright and vibrant sets, costumes, and cinematography emphasizes the hypocrisy of a society like Oz that appears to be a utopia but is dark with systemic issues. The film exposes Oz as a facade that runs on community and glitter, but in reality is corrupt and mistreats its citizens. Its extraordinary visuals push the audience to think about the complexities within Oz and its connection to the deeper themes around compliance and self acceptance.
Wicked did more than just meet expectations. It surpassed them by capturing the magic of the original show and incorporating its own spin at the same time. The film combines nostalgia with meaningful thematic elements, communicating messages of empowerment, acceptance, community, and love that are still as significant as in 2003. Grande and Eviro’s outstanding performances, along with Chu’s complex and layered work, automatically makes this film one that will surely make an impact on each viewer.