Welcome back to the land of Oz!
Wicked: For Good takes place years after the end of the previous film in which Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) declared war on the not so wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). All while belting the show stopping “Defying Gravity,” no less. To sum up, the Wizard is nothing more than a conman who spreads lies and fear amongst the populace to stay in power. When Elphaba threatens to expose the Wizard, he turns her into public enemy number one with the staunch assistance of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), the Dean of Sorcery for the magical Shiz University. Stuck in the middle are Elphaba’s former bully turned friend Glinda (Ariana Grande) and the handsome prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey).
Elphaba’s resistance against the Wizard includes freeing enslaved animals and disrupting the construction of the Yellow Brick Road. Glinda has become a figurehead, the Good Witch in opposition to Elphaba’s Wicked Witch. She is forced to use the Wizard’s tricks and gadgets in place of the true magic locked away in the Grimmerie spellbook. Fiyero has been promoted to captain of the Gale Force, the Wizard’s glorified gestapo. Despite being betrothed to Glinda, he carries feelings for Elphaba. That’s not the only romantic triangle as the Munchkin Boq (Ethan Slater) pines for the gorgeous Glinda while feigning a relationship with Elphaba’s sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode), who has succeeded her late-father as the governor of Munchkinland. She enacts the Wizard’s travel restrictions to prevent him from leaving her. This leads to a tragic transformation.
Wicked: For Good also introduces us to a certain farm girl from Kansas and her little dog too. Though a heroine in her own story, here she is merely a faceless pawn with no clue as to the political turmoil in this fantastical new land. Bronwyn James and Bowen Yang find their roles greatly reduced as Glinda’s followers/lackeys. Goldblum is perfectly cast as the Wizard, which makes it shocking how underutilized he is this time around, despite being the main villain.
The budget of $150 million was well spent as the special effects, costumes, and production design are exquisite. Though a few of the CGI animals look a bit dodgy, the flying monkeys look great, right down to the detailing of their fur. We also get some thrilling superhero-esque sequences of Elphaba flying through the sky. Funny enough, one of the best scenes in Wicked: For Good doesn’t involve any CGI, wires or digital tricks. It sees former BFFs, Elphaba and Glinda, throw down in an old fashioned fistfight with Grande twirling her baton like a bo staff.
The sequel does lack the elaborate dance numbers of its predecessor. Also, none of the songs are as memorable as “Popular” or “No One Mourns the Wicked.” “No Good Deed” may be the best of the bunch with Elphaba bemoaning her futile efforts to turn the tide against mob mentality. She finally decides to be the wicked one they all think she is. “No Place Like Home” is one of the better tunes as well and an original one written specifically for the movie. The other is “The Girl in the Bubble,” a melancholy song that stalls the film’s momentum.
Video/Audio: 10
The video is presented in 1080p with an aspect ratio of 2.39:1. The picture quality is about the best you can get on blu-ray. The colors, especially the greens and pinks, pop off the screen.
The audio is presented in Dolby Atmos. The surround sound feels like you’ve been dropped into the middle of the orchestra pit. The music and vocals are incredible.
Extras: 5
Making Wicked: For Good (51:28) takes us behind the curtains to reveal the challenges of making two films at the same time. The documentary also breaks down the sequel’s pivotal scenes such as the twister that brings Dorothy to Oz, the transformation of Boq, and the music composed by Stephen Schwartz.
The True Wizard (5:56) puts the focus on Jon M. Chu and his directing style.
More Than Just a Place (6:26) looks at the “There’s No Place Like Home” number and the interactions between human actors and CGI animals.
The Girl in the Bubble (6:06) is a featurette about Ariana Grande’s song and her character’s growth in the sequel.
Kiamo Ko (6:08) looks at the design and creation of the secluded castle used as a refuge by Elphaba.
Rounding out the disc is a feature commentary track with director Jon M. Chu, four deleted scenes, and a sing-a-long version with the lyrics appearing on screen karaoke-style.
Film Value: 7
It’s difficult to judge Wicked: For Good on its own. The two parts are made to be seen in one sitting with a brief intermission between installments for snacks and a bathroom break. Serving as Mean Girls with magic, the first Wicked starts things off strong with a lighter tone in comparison to the sequel. Steeped in propaganda, misinformation, and bigotry, Wicked: For Good certainly hits close to home. At least, the heroes here get a happy ending.
