The long-awaited sequel is ‘limited’ in its delivery
By AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS — arts@aggie.org
Exactly one year after the first installment, “Wicked: For Good” released in theaters on Nov. 21, concluding the stories of Glinda Upland, the Good Witch (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba Thropp, the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo).
The second film follows act two of the broadway production of “Wicked,” taking place a year after Elphaba’s ostracization from Oz. With Elphaba’s absence, Glinda becomes the face of “good” in Oz, pitting the two women against each other. As a result, the relationship of the once-best friends becomes incredibly strained, and audiences begin to see the sequel take on a darker tone.
While Erivo displays Elphaba’s optimistic, child-like wonder in the first film, her character becomes harsher, more critical and defiant of the Wizard she once idolized to continue her fight for the animals of Shiz.
Similarly, Grande’s role as the comedic relief character completely shifts as Glinda becomes the representative of Oz. Though it becomes her job to keep spirits high, she’s in immeasurable pain mourning Elphaba’s departure. On the surface, she has everything she’s ever wanted — unconditional love from the citizens of Oz, perceived magical abilities, her dream man — and yet, deep down, she knows it is not enough.
As both Glinda and Elphaba struggle to find a happy ending, their internal conflicts are further fleshed out with the usage of two new, original songs for the film, “No Place Like Home” and “Girl in the Bubble.”
Despite powerful vocals from Erivo and Grande, both of these songs are arguably the weakest in the film. Undoubtedly added for more award nominations, the two songs exacerbate “Wicked: For Good”’s biggest problem: its pacing. While the original Broadway second act is only 45 minutes long, the film manages to stretch it out to 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Because of this expansion, the film struggles to find a stride in its progression. The beginning of the film is incredibly slow, the climax is jam-packed with songs and the ending appears out of nowhere. While the addition of originals sought to ensure the second film’s soundtrack felt on par with the first’s enthralling collection, it falls short in charm — much like the rest of the movie.
Beyond the somber mood of the second installation, the entire film feels completely different from its predecessor. In lieu of the heartfelt exploration of friendship and exhilarating liberation from the confines of others opinions, “For Good” opts for a safer approach with no inner strife.
It’s difficult to understand Elphaba’s reasoning to realign with the Wizard, and even more so to only carry out “no good deeds” after Fiyero’s death. Their relationship is barely fleshed out, and seems unnatural come “As Long as You’re Mine.”
What could have been an expansion on the various unresolved plot points is just back-to-back musical numbers. At no point was Glinda’s pain after Fiyero leaves her for Elphaba discussed, nor Elphaba’s grief over Nessa Rose’s death or what it was like for Elphaba to be rejected from society. The lack of character depth contributed to the flatness of the entire film. Only in the final 20 minutes does the song “For Good” highlight the same emotional depth the first film had. The chemistry between Erivo and Grande shines through the song, with phenomenal vocals that left no dry eyes in the theater. Within its final moments, the film offered a sentimental ending and room for interpretation.
Despite the global phenomenon that “Wicked” has become, it is apparent that the story did not need to be two films. While the first film offered a more expansive look into the backstories of Glinda and Elphaba in a way that offered something new to the narrative, the second was merely a carbon copy adaptation with unnecessary, unsubstantial additions.
Written by: Aaliyah Español-Rivas — campus@theaggie.org
