“Let me tell you the whole story.” That’s how Glinda (Ariana Grande) opens up “Wicked.” A lie, really, because she will only be telling you half the story – “Wicked” is just a part one, with the second movie slated to come out next year.
The decision to split the story into two films has been much litigated online, but now that the movie is out, I can definitively say “Wicked” would have been better as one film. But, to my great surprise, that’s one of only a few complaints.
Based on a musical that in turn was based on a novel by Gregory Maguire, “Wicked” is a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” that tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, also known as Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) before Dorothy came to Oz. The movie chronicles Elphaba’s friendship at school with Glinda the Good Witch, and her obsession – and eventual disillusionment with – the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum).
Read Sammie’s full review on Rough Draft
