‘Wicked: For Good’ Review: Can Only Defy Gravity For So Long

Last year’s Wicked wowed critics and audiences alike with its faithful and endearing adaptation of the hugely popular Broadway musical. The immensely talented combination of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo paired with intricately lavish sets and bombastic musical earworms was more than plenty to get even the most hardened of hearts pumping in tune. A year later and Wicked: For Good returns to close out the second act of the musical, and while Wicked defied gravity, the sequel inevitably comes falling back down. It has been all but drained of the magical charm of the first, with a story that feels more concerned about making references to The Wizard of Oz than further developing its two main witches. There are a few moments where the film manages to tap into the brilliance of its predecessor, but Wicked: For Good can’t escape the pull the franchise has become.

After falling out with the Wizard, Elphaba has been outcast by the entire land of Oz and is being referred to as the Wicked Witch of the West. Only Galinda and a handful of others close to Elphaba know that all she wants to do is ensure that animals have the same rights as people in the land, but Oz pushes propaganda that she is evil and must be stopped. Elphaba continues to fight for what is right, while Galinda believes everyone should play nice and agree to work together and compromise on any issues. Tensions continue to rise, and nothing Elphaba does can convince the citizens of Oz that her intentions are good. Whether she wants it or not, her Wicked Witch of the West title is here to stay.

Wicked: For Good is nowhere near as good as its predecessor. Whatever magical spell Wicked cast on audiences has nearly dissipated. The story never quite reaches the same levels of emotion as the first. The sequel is more focused on Galinda this time around, and while Ariana Grande gets more to do, it’s all far less compelling. Galinda has always wanted to be the most popular, the most adored, the most celebrated, and she gets all of that at the cost of looking the other way. Her character is caught somewhere in the middle. She’s not as good as her Glinda the Good title implies, but she’s also not as vindictive as Oz and cares about Elphaba. The film too easily glosses over how impactful her inaction is, however. She’s not as innocent as everyone makes her out to be, and her growth into Glinda the Good feels all too sudden and unearned. It’s also up to Elphaba to take the higher road and tell Galinda that it’s okay to keep up the charade of her being the Wicked Witch for the betterment of the land. There was definitely potential to show real maturity and change on Galinda’s part, but it’s just not there.

Instead, the story feels like it’s been Marvel-ized, and not in any good way. One thing I enjoyed so much about Wicked was that while it was set within Oz, it made sure to focus on Elphaba’s and Galinda’s story and kept the references to the original The Wizard of Oz to a minimum. It’s the opposite with Wicked: For Good. Everything feels like it must connect to Dorothy’s story in some way, regardless if it serves the story. It’s natural that as the two timelines come closer and closer that there would be some overlap, but Wicked: For Good takes the MCU route and makes nearly everything circle back to the original inspiration. We see the origin story for all of Dorothy’s companions, which get less and less surprising as each is revealed. Weirdly Dorothy herself is featured heavily in the film as well, although her face is obscured by other people or camera angles as if she’s some hidden secret. I understand that this is not Dorothy’s story, but the filmmakers didn’t have to put her in there to begin with. It’s like they want to have their cake and eat it too. There’s no shame in showing Dorothy. Just don’t keep making it seem like she’s this big easter egg.

Wicked: For Good strays from the yellow brick road one too many times. “No Good Deed” is a strong musical number and the highlight of the film, but everything else lacks steady footing. Elphaba and Galinda aren’t nearly as well developed and their big emotional moments are reserved for the songs and are then seemingly forgotten. Everyone’s just going through the motions. It doesn’t matter whether or not the musical should have been split into two films, or that it’s common knowledge that its second act is weaker than the first. Wicked: For Good is unfortunately just not good.