By Sarah Osman

It’s wonderful to see the cinema do justice to the magic of this beloved musical.

Wicked, directed by John M. Chu. Screening everywhere.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked. Photo: Universal

First, let me make it clear that I am a Wicked fan. I’ve seen the stage musical twice, and both times I was swept up, up, and away by it. I’ve been a dancer in cabarets in which I performed excerpts from Wicked. I’ve listened to the soundtrack more times than I care to admit. And I’ve read the novel the show is based on (which in itself is an impressive piece of writing, to be treated with respect as a completely different achievement than the musical).

Despite my love for Wicked, I wasn’t sure a film version would work. How could they transform the theatrical spectacle into a movie? However, director John M. Chu, who helmed the underappreciated film version of In the Heights, has put any of my concerns to rest. Wicked Part 1 is just as spellbinding on the silver screen as it is on the stage.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande had some gigantic shoes to fill (not the ruby ones, mind you, which are silver in Wicked) as the two notorious witches of Oz: Elphaba, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good. Some critics weren’t crazy about the casting, especially of Grande; both actors prove these naysayers to be wrong. Erivo’s voice sent chills down my spine as she belted out “Defying Gravity,” which was just as showstopping on screen as in the theater. Chu has admitted to fearing that he would mess up the iconic song, but he has no cause to worry — this take literally skedaddles into the stratosphere as Erivo zips around on a broomstick.

While Elphaba is very much the lead in Wicked, the musical wouldn’t work without Glinda. And Grande’s comedic chops and supple soprano perfectly fit the plot’s ditzy witch. Grande plays Glinda without a hint of irony, delivering her ridiculous lines with a straight face, a deadpan that works brilliantly for this innocent-to-the-max character. The popular singer has shown comedic talent before (her hosting stints on SNL always inspired some of the evening’s funniest sketches), but, as Glinda, she fully flexes her muscle for farce. I wouldn’t be surprised if Grande’s performance garners her an Oscar nod (I’m hoping it does).

As for the visual world of Wicked, Chu and his production team of wizards have crafted their own mesmerizing take on Oz. Pulling inspiration from the classic 1939 film and the set design of the stage Wicked, this Oz is an impressive wonderland told through a succession of color palettes.

Chu and his crew have also fleshed out the storyline of Wicked, which at times comes off as rather rushed on stage (especially in the second act, but we will see how that’s handled when Wicked: Part 2 comes out). In particular, we see more of Elphaba’s connection to animals, a key thematic point, and get a greater sense of who Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose, is. And Jonathan Bailey breathes lusty life into Fiyero, the dreamy prince Glinda falls hard for. At times, certain scenes feel a little unnecessarily elongated, particularly at the end. But this never reached the point of distraction. Wicked flies by (pun intended) and left me eager to see how the second act will be handled, an act that could stand the most improvement.

All in all, this first foray into Oz is impressive. It’s wonderful to see the cinema do justice to the magic of this musical. Unlike the wizard’s antics, Wicked isn’t a charade — it’s the real deal, a masterpiece that enchants.

Sarah Mina Osman is based in Los Angeles. In addition to the Arts Fuse, her writing can be found in Huffington Post, Success Magazine, Matador Network, HelloGiggles, Business Insider, and WatchMojo. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and is working on her first novel. She has a deep appreciation for sloths and tacos. You can keep up with her on Instagram @SarahMinaOsman and at Bluesky @sarahminaosman.bsky.social.