Jon M. Chu directs this second part of the film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz spinoff Broadway musical, Wicked, which explores Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her relationship with Glinda (Ariana Grande), the Good Witch of the North. (138 min.)
WICKED: FOR GOOD
What’s it rated? PG
What’s it worth, Anna? Full price
What’s it worth, Glen? Matinee
Where’s it showing? Bay, Colony, Downtown Centre, Fair Oaks, Park, Stadium 10
Glen Watching this two-part, four-hour-and-57-minute movie really makes me wish I could have seen the two-and-a-half-hour stage production. Other than a cash grab, I don’t see a lot of reason to have broken this into two parts and doubled its runtime. That being said, the story itself is a very inventive reimagined prequel to The Wizard of Oz (1939). Providing a backstory for the classic characters as well as alternative motivations for their actions is compelling viewing, and Chu and his cinematographer, Alice Brooks, as well as his army-sized art and special effects departments, have made a real spectacle, though I personally prefer the practical effects of the original film to all the CGI effects. Of course, when you have as many animal characters as Wicked, CGI is the only ethical choice, and I did enjoy the animal liberation angle. Look, my review isn’t going to change anyone’s mind about whether to go or not, and if you saw Part 1, in for a penny, in for a pound.
Anna I hear what you’re saying regarding runtime. This would be quite the marathon if you tried to watch the films back-to-back. Each of the films on their own can be a long time in a theater seat, and I’m not sure how they could have crammed the entire storyline together, but I too wish I could’ve seen the stage production. It’s a wonderful story of friendship, of the consequences of how we treat others, and how the narrative of power can influence the world around us. While in the first film we watched Elphaba and Galinda (now Glinda) meet and become unlikely friends, in the second part we watch as their separate lives are thrown back together as Elphaba tries to expose the Wizard’s (Jeff Goldblum) secrets. Glinda may believe the Wizard to be good at heart, but Elphaba knows he’s hiding dark secrets. I can’t say I loved this second half as much as the first, but it carried the same great music, costuming, and heart as the first.
Glen Aside from the two leads, Goldblum was a standout. He was born for the role, mixing the right amount of smarminess with hubris to paint a portrait of a weak man in a position of power who exploits the masses. Hmm. Art imitating life again? It was fun watching how the Cowardly Lion (voiced by Colman Domingo), The Tin Man (Ethan Slater), and The Scarecrow (Jonathan Bailey) come to be, and the film wisely avoids showing any more than a flash or a shadow of Dorothy (Bethany Weaver) because let’s face it: Judy Garland is unreplaceable. It’s certainly big screen-worthy, but I’m miffed at the two-part, five-hour presentation.
Anna Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible also stands out to me. She seems to be the brains behind the Wizard’s wild ideas, and ultimately, it’s her magical abilities that bring Dorothy to Oz. It’s a very slick, high-budget film and it shows in every meticulous detail—but I too don’t need five hours’ worth. I wish they would’ve extended the first film a bit, tightened it up, and given it to us in one wonderful dose. ∆
Arts Editor Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Split Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Dec 4-14, 2025.