"...let me tell you the whole story..."
The hugely successful stage version of Wicked could not be more of a traditional Broadway-style musical if it tried, and this epic reworking for cinema - the first part of two - retains its character and goes (very) big with expansive CGI worldbuilding, nuance of character and extraordinary attention to detail. Cynthia Erivo is dazzlingly assured as Elphaba, Ariana Grande is surprisingly good and a very nice fit for G(a)linda (if a little shrill at times). with Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum adding veteran class and Jonathan Bailey making a mark with energetic swagger as the self-assured Prince Fiyero. All aspects of design are exemplary, retaining essential cinematic iconography and also displaying some fun creative touches. The film may be rather long - heading towards three hours - but it does not feel like it as it is slick, easy to watch and surprisingly funny whilst nailing the big dramatic moments with aplomb. By the time Defying Gravity blows your socks off and the To Be Continued title card comes up, the set up for the darker sequel is promising indeed.
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