Wicked For Good evaluation – Cynthia Erivo bids goodbye yellow brick highway | Films | Entertainment | EUROtoday

A 12 months on from the discharge of Wicked Part 1 and the Act 2 adaptation of Stephen Schwartz’s hit Broadway musical arrives in cinemas this week within the type of Wicked For Good. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande reprise their roles – and spectacular pipes – as Elphaba (the Wicked Witch) and Glinda (the Good Witch), following Part 1, which depicted their time at Americanised Hogwarts (or ought to that be Ozwarts?). Now Part 2 overlaps with the occasions of the Wizard of Oz, earlier than, throughout and past. Much like the primary half, Wicked For Good’s best power is its musical numbers. With Erivo’s bombastic efficiency of Defying Gravity spectacularly concluding Part 1, what got here subsequent was going to be exhausting to observe. Wonderfully, the facility of this quantity was replicated in Elphaba’s rendition of No Good Deed excessive up in her witch’s tower, scoring audible “wows” from the viewers on the European premiere. Another spotlight was the emotional and reconciliatory monitor For Good, whereas authentic composer Stephen Schwartz penned two new songs for Part 2 in Erivo’s No Place Like Home and Grande’s The Girl within the Bubble. Both are high-quality reflective ballads, however they pale compared to the unique hits and solely add to the overlong runtime. Just to provide you an concept, the primary film alone manages to be 10 minutes longer than the complete runtime of the stage musical.

With Oz’s fantastical emerald panorama and speaking CGI animals, Wicked For Good actually has the appear and feel of a Disney live-action remake with all its digital gloopiness. As with the stage musical, we by no means see Dorothy’s face and sure characters from Part 1 change into her unusual companions in want of assist from Jeff Goldblum’s splendidly eccentric Wizard. Meanwhile, Michelle Yeoh’s villain feels considerably miscast, however Jonathan Bailey excels as soon as once more because the dashing Fiyero, who there could also be extra to than meets the attention.

But it’s Grande who stands out because the preening pink princess Glinda, in a task that may in all probability rating her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. As a complete, Wicked and Wicked For Good aren’t for everyone. Sure, it’s a deal with for the tremendous followers, however saying goodbye to the yellow brick highway for in all probability received’t be that memorable for many.

Wicked For Good hits UK cinemas on Friday.