Wicked is a triumph. It instantly cements itself as the definitive version of the musical. It will thrill fans and mesmerize newcomers. It will be talked about as among the best movies of the year, and it will deserve it.
But, in my estimation, despite its PG rating, this is not a movie for kids.
Universal Pictures’ newest feature film is an adaptation of the beloved 2003 stage musical Wicked, which is based on the 1995 novel of the same name.
The novel was self-consciously for adults. It had adult themes and adult content. When the book was turned into a musical, the adult content was stripped away, but the adult themes remained. This movie very faithfully reproduces the musical.
The film’s message is that everything you hear is a lie—especially from the people you should be able to trust. Evil is good, and good is evil.
This message is unmissable. Even the youngest children who see Wicked will root for the superhero that everyone says is the bad guy.
Ultimately, the film is an important warning against propaganda, an essential message for adults. We must be able to critically assess our sources of information and recognize that there often lie complexities beneath the stories we hear.
This message, however, can undercut the important foundational moral development of children. C.S. Lewis argued that we must teach children the simple differences between right and wrong because otherwise, “we only make them easier prey to the propagandist when he comes.” While I hope I’ll get to watch the film with my children someday, I won’t choose to watch it with my own until they’re about fifteen or so.
But with the audience in mind, it shouldn’t detract from what is otherwise one of the best movies of the year. Many have tried to recapture the magic of the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.” This is the first to deliver an Oz that once again feels immersive and full of magic. And in creating a cinematic Oz, it remains very faithful to that movie, down to the titles.
As an adaptation of a stage musical, it bursts the world so wide that you’ll wonder how they ever managed to fit the story on stage.
Many people who have long loved Wicked, have scrutinized this production and its decisions for years. There was never anything to worry about. The Wizard played by Jeff Goldblum, is perfect with the stilted charm he has become known for. Ariana Grande-Butera gives a thrilling and grounded performance, making likable a very difficult character. Cynthia Erivo, as the wicked witch Elphaba, is a star. She delivers a nuanced performance you can’t help but root for. Her evolution from scared kid to freedom fighter is a powerhouse. And the vocal performances are impeccable all around.
There is no real weak link in the cast. Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage, and Ethan Slater hit all the right notes while never distracting from the real stars.
The decision to split the movie in two gives the story some space to breathe, allowing us to better appreciate the characters and motivations. Most of the additions are effortless. Some, such as an interpretive dance number between Galinda and Elphaba, are remarkable, and really deepened the story. There is one new musical number that provides a helpful backstory, but is musically pretty forgettable. And besides strongly suggesting that Fiyero, the romantic lead, is bisexual, these characters are exactly who we’ve come to love.
The picture’s two-hour and forty-minute run time moves quickly, but I imagine the experience would have been better if the final third of this film had been tightened up. If I have one complaint about the movie itself, it’s that it embellishes a bit. At times, you can tell they weren’t willing to simply tell us the story; they needed to tell it in the most artistic way possible. For the most part, this instinct serves the film well, but around the edges, it can feel a bit too much.
If you do choose to watch this film with your kids, it will open up some important conversations. You might try questions like, how did the students at Shizz treat Elphaba? How should we treat others to help them be their best selves? Does being mistreated justify making bad choices? If you were a student at Shizz, how would you feel about Dr. Dillamond leaving? How would you find out what was really happening? Why did the citizens of Oz trust the wizard? Should they have?
Parents should also know the movie includes magical alcohol and adultery.
I’ll recommend this movie to everyone I know. Just hire a babysitter. Four out of five stars. Wicked releases in theaters nationwide November 22, 2024.
The post Why ‘Wicked’ Is a Must-Watch for Adults but Not for Children first appeared on Meridian Magazine.