Rating: 3/5

After a long, COVID-delayed wait, Broadway favorite “Wicked” was brought to theatres on Nov. 22, 2024. But through the glitter and colors, director Jon M. Chu had big shoes to fill to live up to “Wicked’s” impressive legacy. Nearly three hours long, I had high expectations as I stepped into the theatre.

Starring Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba—the misunderstood green witch—and pop star Ariana Grande as the bubbly, popular Glinda, the movie sets off with Elphaba’s trip to the famed Shiz University to accompany her sister. Although she intended to lie low, Elphaba’s hidden powers are unexpectedly revealed to the entire school, and she is convinced to attend Shiz to develop her powers. Paired with Glinda—her polar opposite—as her roommate, Elphaba struggles to fit in at Shiz. Elphaba and Glinda’s differences couldn’t be more clear. One green and one pink, one flirtatious and outgoing while the other serious and shy. Despite having their own motives, Elphaba and Glinda form an unexpected friendship, navigating school and eventually traveling down to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard of Oz together.

Visually, the film is flawless. With a vibrant and thoughtful color palette, it emphasizes the contrast between Elphaba and Glinda through the use of pink and green, especially highlighted in their split dorm room where their key colors are physically divided with a line. The special effects, displayed with Elphaba’s powers, are seamlessly woven through—subtle, but magical. The soundtrack plays off of the original Broadway musical, with catchy songs such as “Defying Gravity” and “Popular.”

However, considering it’s nearly three hours long, you’d expect there to be more action. The film’s pacing is largely focused on building Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship, with the actual conflict only being introduced in the final thirty minutes when they meet the Wizard of Oz. Because the story rushes to its peak, the uneven pacing feels frustrating, rather than exciting. Although this did create amazing character development and chemistry between the characters, I expected a lot more movie action after sluggishly waiting through almost three hours of singing.

Perhaps the plot could’ve been reduced. There seemed to be no point in having a love interest for Glinda. Elphaba’s sister could have made fewer appearances. It also seemed pointless to split the movie into two parts. By splitting it up, we completely lose the plot in the first movie and the character development in the second.

Overall, “Wicked” only deserves two stars. Although the visuals and music were impressive, I left the theatre feeling as if I’d wasted three hours of my life. Perhaps my expectations were too high. With a second part of the movie set to be released later this year, I can only hope that this one will be better, because “Wicked” was wickedly disappointing.