Queerguru’s Ris Fatah reviews WICKED : a fairy-tale, fantasy pop musical that is an assault on the senses.
Oh, where to begin with Wicked? Well director John M Chu‘s screen adaptation of the Broadway smash hit has taken over $600m at the box office in little over a month, and that can’t all be due to the genius casting of queer icon Jonathan Bailey as the love interest of Ariana Grande. Over ten years in the making, Wicked is 2024’s musical prequel to 1939’s classic The Wizard of Oz, and focuses on the relationship between the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (an excellent Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda the Good Witch (pop star Ariana Grande).
We begin the film at the death of Elphaba, and the rejoicing of the Munchkins throughout Oz. Glinda’s previous friendship with Elphaba is questioned which opens up the story of how they met and began their relationship.
Elphaba was the result of an illicit affair and unfortunately was born with green skin. This leads to a childhood full of hate and ridicule, made worse by Elphaba’s telekinetic powers which reap havoc and destruction whenever she is angry. Some time later, Elphaba helps her wheelchair-using sister (Marissa Bode) to enrol at Shiz University in Oz. Subject to student ridicule for her disability, Elphaba’s temper flares and causes chaos at the enrolment day. This captures the attention of the Head of Sorcery, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), who offers her a place at the university. Elphaba accepts, and meets her reluctant room-mate, fellow sorcery student, rich, glamorous fashion queen, Glinda.
At first the two don’t get on at all. High fashion, high maintenance, doll-like Glinda is disdainful of slightly dull and frumpy Elphaba, who is also socially awkward, never having had a friend before. The two, however, gradually bond through their shared living arrangements and their mutual connection with handsome Prince Fiyero (the suitably dashing and camp Jonathan Bailey). Thus begins a journey of friendship, animal rights activism and powerful sorcery, including the inevitable trip to visit the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum).
A fairy-tale, fantasy pop musical, Wicked is an assault on the senses. Fantastic sets and effects, amazing costumes and a very diverse cast of hundreds will have your eyes popping all over the place. Non-stop musical interludes will either delight or infuriate – I personally found them unnecessary and pretty unmemorable, but fans of Grande will no doubt be happy. Erivo and Grande are perfectly cast as the unlikely duo, as is Jonathan Bailey who can simultaneously sing, dance and act brilliantly. More of him please. Michelle Yeoh also shines as the formidable Madame Morrible. At 2 hours 40 minutes, this is a long film, and actually quite short on plot, although the underlying messages of acceptance, diversity and friendship not based on appearance are welcome. It’s also only half of the story – the sequel comes out in 2025, so quite demanding of the viewer’s time. A little more queer innuendo would have been welcome, especially given the camp extravaganza of the sets and costumes, but overall fans of the stage play, Erivo, Grande, Bailey and Yeoh will not be disappointed.
Queerguru’s Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah
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