“Wicked: For Good” is… not good. It’s also not bad. The perfect word to describe the film would be unnecessary, as most of the magic may have been used up in the first installment.
“Wicked: For Good” has a messy start. Attempting to catch audiences up while also continuing the story coherently, it drops the ball. The early stages come across as a montage more than anything, giving a quick glimpse of each character. Because of this, it solely feels like a continuation of a movie rather than its own.
With the entire “Wicked” musical running for 165 minutes, this begs the question: did the story warrant two parts? “Wicked: For Good” answers that definitively. And it’s a big no.
Even after the early woes, “Wicked: For Good” continues to feel disjointed. After the momentum of the first movie, the film shifts its focus to all the wrong elements. While part two answers many questions the first installment posed, it does so very slowly.
With a 137-minute runtime — compared to 160 for the first film — “Wicked: For Good” struggles to remain compelling. While part one provides a rush of adrenaline and heart from beginning to end, this release stumbles nonstop.
Not only that, but it’s somehow still rushed. By dragging out uncritical moments and speeding through important ones, the movie’s core rings hollow. There isn’t the emotional gut punch you’d expect. While we see the characters blossom into new versions of themselves, the journey to get there feels forced. With a strained plot also comes unbalanced tones. “Wicked: For Good” tries to do too many different things, and it leads to several baffling moments. Lazy transitions and glossed-over scenes create drastic tonal shifts that cause it to lose traction.
The core messaging of “Wicked” still remains. “Wicked: For Good” explores self-identity, friendship and empathy in meaningful ways. The characters get their glorious send-offs, and fans will likely be satisfied.
Despite the film’s issues, it doesn’t diminish its beauty. “Wicked: For Good” includes tremendous set designs, with a colorful world that is hard not to be immersed in. Whether it’s an entire city cursing the wicked witch or just Elphaba and Glinda in a room, the cinematography is stunning.
While the musical numbers don’t reach the height of part one, they still succeed. Ariana Grande (Glinda) and Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) once again steal the show, bouncing off each other time and time again. Their vocals are what make “Wicked: For Good” memorable, hammering home the few emotional moments that land. Jonathan Bailey (Prince Fiyero), Jeff Goldblum (The Wizard) and Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible) are all standouts as well.
It’s not only about the singing, as these actors can also… act. Grande, specifically, brings buckets of emotion in surprising ways. Despite playing such a flamboyant character, she makes her relatable in small moments through her delivery. Erivo also dives completely into the character, offering another tour-de-force performance.
The magic is still here — just not as much of it. “Wicked: For Good” is unable to live up to its predecessor with a stretched-thin plot, uneven tones and weak new songs. The heartfelt messaging remains, but the spirit of it all does not.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
