When “Wicked” came out in the fall of 2024, I honestly did not expect to like it because I did not like “The Wizard of Oz” when I saw it as a kid. I knew “Wicked” was a prequel to the classic film, and I was not interested. I only went to see the movie because it was a musical (my favorite piece of media is “Hamilton,” also a musical) and it had Ariana Grande in it, one of my favorite artists at the time. I watched it, and absolutely loved it. My unexpected love for the first movie made me beyond excited for the release of “Wicked: For Good,” and I finally got to see it recently.
First of all, I loved how the second movie already had a predetermined release date when the first movie came out. Before I watched “Wicked,” I had no clue that the first movie would only be the first act of “Wicked,” the musical. This had me on the edge of my seat even more. Knowing the predetermined release date made me more hyped and prepared for the next movie.
I absolutely loved “Wicked: For Good” as much as the first one. The story was so easy to follow, and the intertwinement between the “Wicked” world and “The Wizard of Oz” was done so well. I also did not know that the story of “The Wizard of Oz” happened during the “Wicked” timeline, but once again, the way the movie presented that idea helped me understand it even more. Although I was new to the story of “Wicked,” the plot flowed and did not lose my attention.
Of course, the songs and music of the movie were amazing as well. Cynthia Erivo, as Elphaba, and Ariana Grande, as Glinda, were great picks for the movie, not only because they are great singers separately, but because of how well their singing voices blend together. As someone who loves musicals, their powerful vocals kept me invested in the story.
This movie also made me emotional. I did not cry, but I was very close to doing so at the end. Both Elphaba and Glinda had been working so hard toward their own goals and dreams, and the ending of the movie helps bring those goals and dreams to a conclusion. This is what really made me emotional, because it reminded me of my relationships with my friends and how deep and complicated they are, just like Elphaba and Glinda’s. Though I was not familiar with the source material, I was able to relate to the story and empathize with the characters.
Even though I loved both movies equally, I was not as excited as I was for “Wicked” compared to “Wicked: For Good,” but I think that is because when I saw “Wicked,” it was a totally new world that I was submerged in, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat when I watched it. I came to see “Wicked: For Good” with a better understanding of the story, and I somewhat knew or at least predicted what was going to happen in the story. Nevertheless, it was still a great movie.
Even though I have never seen or listened to the original musical, it was still a pleasure to watch and be introduced to “Wicked,” especially as someone who loves musicals. If you are debating watching the movies, but feel like you should not because you have not seen the musical, watch the movies anyway. This movie has a great story and amazing music. If you are looking for something fun and refreshing, whether you are interested in musicals or musical movies, or not, “Wicked” is worth the watch.