Wicked

Two things I have never been able to do. One is read the book this movie is based on. I spent two lunch hours trying to get into it and finally moved on. Two, I can’t stand Broadway musical songs. To my ears, it’s a thousand songs that are exactly the same with different words, and I can never understand those. When people start singing in a movie my mind will wander to everything else – the choreography, the costumes, the sets, how much popcorn is on the floor.

Luckily, the women singing these songs have amazing voices. It didn’t matter I couldn’t understand a fair amount of the words, the voices are great and the choreography let me know the gist of the message. The non-singing actors gave it their all and I appreciate their bravery, but it just pointed up how utterly outclassed they are. At one point I began to wonder who did the choreography because it reminded me very much of the dancing in Anna and the Apocalypse. Not the same person, but it was a lot of fun.

The story is set in the Oz world and begins with a voiceover in a castle room with a puddle of water and a famous black pointy hat. The wicked witch has been killed by Dorothy from Kansas, and word spreads super fast through the land. Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, shows up and partakes, then reminisces about the fallen witch, who at one time was a good friend. The rest of the movie is an extended flashback of when the two met and turned a rocky relationship into a close one.

This is a beefier version of the original Oz film. The art deco steampunk sensibility has been enhanced, the color saturation rivals the original film, graphics are the same as the original, and there are a lot of fantastical elements that don’t fight for center stage but enhance from the periphery. I especially loved the chime birds that strike the outdoor chimes instead of letting the wind have its way.

In a way the original Oz had a bit of diversity, I’m thinking specifically of the Munchkins. They were played by a large group of little people who had been recruited from all over the United States. Their story is fascinating, in some ways great and in other ways hair pulingly bad. A hundred years later and of course there is even more diversity this time around. Not all the Munchkins are little people, which did cause me to make a questioning note, not everyone is thin or Caucasian, or even human. This is one of those movies where cgi enhances the experience to the nth degree, and lets us have the wonderful voice of Peter Dinklage (yes, I get the irony) voicing Professor Dillamond. There are some cute and funny gay moments that made me laugh and feel good about inclusion without making a big deal out it.

Acting is first rate across the board. Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba, and every time I see her now I think of the movie Widows in 2018 where she plays a queer coded, boxing and running jock in a gritty crime drama. She’s like the American Emily Blunt – she can do anything. Ariana Grande is so famous as a singer that even I had heard of her. You guessed it, I am not a pop culture person. So you might imagine how blown away I was when she started singing in the film. I turned to CFR in shock. Wow. Now, imagine how it is when Michelle Yeow, who has done everything from jumping a motorcycle onto a moving train to playing a hapless laundromat owner while always looking gorgeous and finally won an Oscar because she’s awesome, sings in a movie with Erivo and Grande. She’s very brave, and doesn’t embarrass herself. Jeff Goldblum is the wizard, and some camera slight of hand turns him into a tap dancing singer, sorta.

I may sound sarcastic. Okay, I am being a bit sarcastic, but I was impressed that the movie makers didn’t try to hide their musical weakness. Shown against these two powerhouse voices, I thought the filmmakers did a bang up job.

On perusing the internets when I got home I discovered that a lot of people consider the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda to be queer coded. That’s nice and all, but I didn’t see it that way. There are a few moments that could be viewed that way, but the strongest message from the film, I thought, was of two women who love each other deeply as friends. That’s a great message that a lot of young people should experience and I was really moved by it.

I am also amazed at how well actually creative people turned a boring and confusing book into something so grand and magical. This film is gorgeous to look at, fun to listen to even if you hate Broadway tunes, and has some deep messages about some serious topics. At the end, all the little girls in the theater clapped, including CFR, and I don’t blame them a bit. This movie is sometimes harsh but a great lesson for young people about the power of kindness and the love of friends.

LINKS:

• Wicked – Official Movie Site
• Wicked – IMDB
• Wicked – Wikipedia
• SURPRISE! CFR’s YouTube Wicked Playlist – Enjoy

CFR: In Addition

Cranky is correct. Yes, I DID applaud at the end of the movie. You go, Elphaba!!!! How could I not applaud? It was beautiful. I’m so glad other people applauded too.

Here are the things I loved:

1. Singing. I am so glad that the two leads were played by women who can SING. Seriously, powerfully, perfectly sing. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have magnificent voices. They had voices that could and did carry the movie and the songs. I can’t stand it when movies cast non-singing actors in musical roles. Oh. Good. Grief. No excuse for that. The roles of Elphaba and Galinda MUST have power house singers and Erivo and Grande succeeded. And yes I agree with Cranky that it was fine to have non-singers in supporting roles. They were just fine.
2. Color Palette. I loved the interplay of pink and green. It was everywhere and hinted at all over the place. Even when in Shiz University that featured the color blue in the costumes, pink and green were always in the background.
3. Acting. Yes the acting was perfect. Of course this is what happens when you cast talented people. They lift up the story and the movie. I loved everyone’s performance. And I, like Cranky, LOVE seeing Michelle Yeoh.
4. Sets. They were beautiful. Breathtaking! I love how Cranky calls it art deco steampunk and that is perfect. I felt I was truly in a new world.
5. Dance. I agree with Cranky, the dancing was so fun. I felt it was very “stompy” and I really loved it. When Elphaba and Galinda dance together for the first time it was pure poetry. Loved it.
6. Wheelchair. Huzzah!! Elphaba’s sister Nessarose is wheelchair bound. Playing Nessarose is indeed an actress – Marissa Bode – who is also in a wheelchair. Love it. It was so good to have her in the movie.
7. Animals. I like how the animals were shown as beings who lost their voices and therefore the power to live their own lives. Powerful in the movie and I really worried about those CGI animals.
8. Diversity. LOVE it. This movie had an Asian director and a black woman as a lead. Huzzah! It was good to see a myriad of colors and SIZES in the crowd and characters. Loved it.
9. Quick Thought. Shiz University looked like Hogwarts where everyone dressed in Ravenclass blue. I did enjoy that.
10. Seeing the Movie with Cranky. Cranky is good company. Whether movies or food, Cranky is a wonderful friend. Hey, Cranky! Let’s see more movies over Xmas holidays.

Here is what I hated:

1. Nothing.
2. Ok, there is one thing: It isn’t streaming yet. Argh! I’ll just have to go back to the theater to watch again. Hey Cranky!
3. Ok the mean characters who weren’t nice to the animals. Boo to them.

In short, go see Wicked. It will make you believe you too can defy gravity.