Review: Holding space for 'Wicked'

At 12:30 p.m. on Friday, in theater five, seat E10 at Silverspot Cinema with my large Coke and white cheddar popcorn, I was squirming with excitement in my seat. I was about to see a movie I was expecting to be incredible.

"Wicked" did not let me down.

The movie, an adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical of the same name, tells the story of the fantastical land of Oz before Dorothy gets there. In 2 hours and 40 minutes, the movie goes through the original musical's first act, concluding with one of the greatest Broadway songs ever, “Defying Gravity." 

I first saw the musical "Wicked" when I was 10 during its time at Durham Performing Arts Center. I don’t remember much besides how I liked Glinda’s dresses and hated the flying monkeys. Regardless, over the next decade I fell in love with musical theater and "Wicked" was one of the shows that I grew to love. Now, a decade later, I eagerly anticipated the movie’s release — as did countless other musical fans.

This review will be as spoiler-free as possible, but I would recommend watching the movie before reading this review. Come back after you’ve gotten to see Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera’s stunning renditions of Elphaba and Glinda. 

Speaking of those leading ladies, they did not disappoint. On the movie’s press tour, the two got emotional about their experience — though I will admit that I questioned how genuine those moments were. 

But after watching, I was crying right there with them.

Both Erivo and Grande-Butera portray their respective characters of Elphaba and Glinda beautifully. It’s evident how much work they put into bringing these characters to life on the big screen. When watching, I felt like I was watching the characters, not the actresses. 

I cried several times throughout the film (five, to be exact), particularly during scenes with Elphaba and Glinda. From loathing everything about each other in “What Is This Feeling?” to finding a deep understanding of each other at the end of the film. Both actresses successfully portrayed the complicated friendship that has enraptured theatre audiences since the Broadway musical's debut.

In my opinion, this is Erivo's best performance to date. She played Elphaba flawlessly, especially with her portrayal of Elphaba’s longing to be understood and loved, alongside wanting to remain true to herself. Erivo's masterful ability to show Elphaba's courage and vulnerability made for a very powerful performance. 

Grande-Butera also had a stunning performance of Glinda’s self-absorbed and princess-like nature. Her comedic timing was on point through her one-liners. I adored how she expanded on her character as the movie progressed through showing her becoming more understanding to those around her. Seeing her stand beside Elphaba and dance with her in the Ozdust Ballroom when everyone else was laughing at her made me weep in my seat.

While Erivo and Grande-Butera are crucial to the film's success, this is a movie-musical. And this movie-musical wouldn't have been nearly as compelling without the music. 

The songs in "Wicked" are simply incredible. The opening number “No One Mourns The Wicked” was a beautiful performance from Grande-Butera that set the scene for the rest of the soundtrack in terms of vocal ability and performance.

My personal favorite song would have to be “Defying Gravity” due to its emotional impact and how effectively it closes the movie. It’s a longer song, but the scene in the movie kept me on the edge of my seat with my eyes glued to the screen. Erivo’s riffs and vocal choices drove the song home, and I didn’t see a dry eye in the audience.

There were no bad parts of this movie in my opinion, and the cultural dialogue the film has with lived experiences of racism and discrimination are particularly poignant, due to the discrimination Elphaba experiences because of her green skin. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Erivo expressed that as a Black woman, she knows what it feels like to be an outsider and that she used playing Elphaba to share that experience of not fitting in, as she knows so many people watching feel the same way.

Needless to say, the lights came up after the movie and I was in tears. The storytelling and artistry seen in "Wicked" made it an instant classic for me. I highly recommend experiencing the magic of the movie for yourself, and if you’re like me, you’ll be making plans to see it again as soon as possible.

@dthlifestyle | lifestyle@dailytarheel.com