I grew up loving The Wizard of Oz thanks to my mom, even though I made fun of it when she first tried to get me into it. Wicked was something I got introduced to in high school. Some of my friends were really into theater and Broadway, and we even did a school production of Wicked. That was my proper introduction to the music, the characters, and the idea that it was a prequel of sorts that remixed the world of Oz. So I have a lot of nostalgia tied to Wicked. It takes me back to being a teenager and seeing it on stage for the first time and being blown away.
Wicked: For Good continues the adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical and picks up directly after the cliffhanger ending of Wicked Part One. As Oz plunges deeper into political chaos, Elphaba’s reputation is pushed even further by the Wizard’s regime. Glinda rises in public influence and has to reckon with the cost of her ambition. Relationships fracture, alliances shift, and the truth behind Elphaba’s fate moves into focus as the story heads toward the legendary “For Good” finale.
I was highly anticipating this film, and I’m happy to say I really enjoyed Wicked: For Good. I went in with a lot of excitement because of my attachment to the story and the nostalgia, but also because I loved the first film. It was number three on my favorite films of the year list, which is saying something because I watch a few hundred movies every year. I really hoped they would stick the landing.
To be transparent, I do have a few gripes, and some of them come from worries I had going in that did end up being true for me. But I still want to start off with the positives. If you’re excited for this movie, there is a lot here to enjoy. I’m still going to critique it because I love breaking things down, but this is spoiler-free. If you have seen the stage play, you already know the general beats.
One of the concerns I had going in is that I always felt the first half of Wicked had the stronger story beats, characters, and songs. The entirety of the stage play is about as long as the first movie, so hearing they would split it into two made me nervous. I think the first movie handled that first half really well and ended exactly where the intermission would be. I was curious to see how they would handle the latter half.
There are a few issues with the story. Starting right in the middle does make the beginning of this film feel like they are trying to reset the board and get things moving quickly. But despite that, Wicked: For Good still has all the positives of the first film, especially with the cast. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are great again. Their chemistry, their charm, and their emotional scenes all land. You can tell how connected they are, and that carries into their performances in a really effective way.
The rest of the returning cast is strong. Jonathan Bailey is a huge highlight. Jeff Goldblum brings his usual charm while still leaning into the sleazy nature of the Wizard, which fits perfectly. Michelle Yeoh is great as always, and the rest of the ensemble really shows up.
The production is also fantastic. Just like the first film, the sets, costumes, hair, makeup, and CGI create a vibrant and colorful world. My only gripe is that some green screen moments are more obvious here. It doesn’t ruin anything, but a few shots definitely look like the actors are just standing in front of a green screen.
The music is handled well. There are a few new songs added that aren’t in the stage play, so fans should expect some changes. I thought the new songs were solid. Vocally, everyone delivers. Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey all sound incredible. Jeff Goldblum has more of a fun, cutesy style of singing compared to the others, but it still works for his character.
Story-wise, when this film leans into the emotional core of Wicked, it works. The latter half of the Wicked story has some of the most impactful moments, and this film plays into that. When the writing is strong and the performances are full force, it’s emotional and gripping.
But the biggest weakness here is the same weakness many “Part Two” movies have. It does not really feel like its own standalone film. It feels more like the end of a larger movie. The beginning can feel a bit choppy and scattered because they are trying to jump between characters and get everything set up for the finale. That made me wonder if this would have worked better as one long film instead of two. A three-hour movie that combined both halves might have been more cohesive.
Another big element is how the film overlaps with The Wizard of Oz storyline. I was excited to see how they would incorporate Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion. Similar to the play, it does feel like they expect you to already know The Wizard of Oz. You only get the CliffsNotes moments of Dorothy’s story. Most of the time, Dorothy is just shown from behind. If you haven’t seen The Wizard of Oz, I think there is a bit of a disconnect. They could have expanded that part of the story more in a film adaptation, and I think it was a missed opportunity.
Still, even with those issues, Wicked: For Good is fun, emotional, and visually beautiful. The cast is great. The musical numbers work. There are sweet romantic moments. The changes from the stage play won’t make purists angry and still keep the heart of Wicked intact. I didn’t love it as much as the first film, which I think is nearly perfect, but I found the ending of this one touching and satisfying. The only real disjointed parts are in the beginning.
Overall, I think most fans will walk away very happy. If you love Wicked and just want to enjoy the world, the music, and these characters on screen, you’ll have a great time. If you tend to analyze story structure or pacing like I do, you might walk away thinking the first film is stronger, but this is still a very good sequel with a great ending.
Rating: 8/10