After “Wicked” debuted in theaters on Nov. 22, 2024, fans were ready for the next movie, and I was no exception. I absolutely loved the first movie, which covers the first act of the Broadway musical, and I rushed to the theater as soon as I could to see the end of the story. 

“Wicked: For Good” takes place about a year after the events in “Wicked,” with Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and Glinda, played by Ariana Grande. Elphaba is ready to fight the Wizard of Oz, played by Jeff Goldblum, for his cruelty against animals, while Glinda is working with the Wizard and trying to bring Elphaba back under his wing. 

Fiyero, the main love interest played by Johnathan Bailey, is also working with the Wizard as a guard, trying to capture Elphaba. Madame Morrible, played by Michelle Yeoh, is working tirelessly as the Wizard’s press secretary to paint Elphaba as the evil Wicked Witch of the West and turn Oz against her. The film follows the struggle for power between Elphaba and the Witch, while asking the question of who, exactly, is truly Wicked? 

I absolutely loved the film, and from the moment I sat down, I felt immersed in the world of Oz. Similarly in “Wicked,” the colors and sets were so wonderfully designed and brought the scenes of the story to life. One of my absolute favorite details is Elphaba’s green skin; the texture and coloring are so masterfully crafted and I would have believed that Erivo’s skin in real life was green. I also appreciated the many little details that paid homage to the Broadway musical and the seamless transition between the two movies. 

I hoped Director John M. Chu wouldn’t deviate too much from the original storyline, and he did an amazing job of staying true to the plot while also adding two new original songs—‘No Place Like Home’ for Elphaba and ‘Girl in the Bubble’ for Glinda—that I think flushed out the story in a way that the play was unable to do. The vocals in the movie are incredible, and my favorite scene would have to be ‘No Good Deed,’ a powerful ballad for Elphaba. The visuals with Erivo’s voice are a truly stunning combination, and that scene left me amazed in my seat. 

Coming into the film, I had already seen the Broadway play, so I knew exactly the sequence of events that would occur. However, I appreciated knowing the basic plot because it allowed me to pay more attention to the underlying themes of the story. On the surface, “Wicked: For Good” is the prequel and backstory to “The Wizard of Oz,” telling the story of the witches, but more than anything, it is an allegory about a tyrannical dictatorship. Madame Morrible and the Wizard are actively working to ostracize the animals in the land of Oz, taking away their rights to speak, travel, and exist. All of the intentional propaganda against animals in Oz turns them into scapegoats and keeps an evil and cowardly man, the Wizard, in power by disguising his shortcomings and giving the public a common enemy. 

The citizens of Oz are so wrapped up in the lies the Wizard has fed them for so many years, they are incapable of seeing the truth, even though Elphaba tries to get them to break through the brainwashing they have succumbed to. One of the most powerful scenes in the movie comes as Oz is celebrating the completion of the yellow brick road, and Elphaba flies through clouds to paint the words “Our Wizard Lies” in the sky. Quickly, Madame Morrible uses her power to shift the clouds to say “Oz Dies,” tricking the citizens into believing she is a villain when, in reality, Elphaba wants nothing more than to save the animals and unite Oz. 

While the musical “Wicked” came out in 2003, the story seemed more than appropriate for this time in history. Not only were the music, costumes, sets, and actors perfect, but the themes that the movie calls attention to are vital for everyone to hear today.

5/5 Paws