On November 21st of this year, Wicked: For Good came out. This was one of two movie adaptations of the on-going broadway musical Wicked. The first movie, released a year earlier, adapts the first act of the musical. Wicked: For Good is the second act brought to life on the big screen. 

But compared to the first movie, this one is trash.

Just kidding……

Last year’s Wicked was an excellent movie. The production was great, and the soundtrack touched the souls of everyone who watched. That movie is what got us into the Wicked franchise in the first place. There was just the right amount of promotion, and the movie left a strong impact.

The second one wasn’t bad at all, but it definitely wasn’t as good as the first. The songs, for instance, were just okay. Of course “No Good Deed” was sung amazingly by Cynthia Erivo, and “As Long As You’re Mine” by both Cynthia and Jonathan Bailey was surprisingly one of the best, but the rest just didn’t make as much of an impact. There were also two original songs added, “No Place Like Home,” and “Girl In The Bubble.” Both are infamously hated by fans. The music felt almost like one song, never-ending and sounding the same.

On a brighter note, the main actors were phenomenal. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo had a compelling chemistry on screen that made it easy to believe their characters were as close as they are. Not to mention the two of them are also some of the greatest vocalists of this generation. Ethan Slater as the Tin Man was also unexpectedly one of the top performances in the movie. His rendition of March of the Witch Hunters left fans somehow frightened of the previously troubled and soft-spoken Tin Man.

Michelle Yoh, as Madame Morrible, has been facing a lot of backlash recently for the acting on her part. Fans claim she was emotionless and botched the few lines she had. I honestly think the fandom is being dramatic. Michelle Yoh might not be the best singer, but her acting wasn’t horrible. Morrible is an annoying character to play, anyway, which might be affecting the viewer’s opinion. But if she’s hated so much, then that should be considered good acting, since her character is supposed to be hated. I guess it is true what they say—Madame Morrible, flip it around, Wicked Witch.

Even with all its faults, both movies do one thing wonderful; the visuals. From the sets, to the colors, to the camera work, Wicked is a beautiful production. Every scene is nice to look at, and it just feels like Oz is brought to life. Munchkinland seems completely different from Emerald City, but they both feel a part of the same world. The different locations and how well done they are make them feel real. Not to mention the costume work. Elphaba’s cloak, when flying, makes her look powerful and intimidating. Glinda’s poofy dresses and crown are glamorous and help her fake the role of a witch, and Boq’s realistic and scary costume helped him play the role of the heartless Tin Man. 

But compared to the first, Wicked: For Good felt like it was lacking something. Most of the movie felt one-dimensional. It feels like nothing changes until the end of the film, which has an almost two-and-a-half-hour runtime. Most of the movie is just Elphaba running around with no real purpose. And while the inclusions of the original The Wizard of Oz were interesting with the Tin Man, Dorothy, and their march to the Wicked Witch, the moments were limited. Bethany Weaver played the perfect Dorothy without even showing her face, looking just like Judy Garland. Besides these small scenes, the rest of the movie fell flat. Fiyero and Elphaba’s chemistry felt almost fake, especially compared to the first Wicked. The ending scene and song For Good with Ariana and Cynthia was definitely emotional, but it lacks the depth that should have come from the rest of the film. 

Overall, Wicked: For Good was a decent movie. It wasn’t bad, but it lacked the emotion and storytelling from the first. But even with the flaws, it’s a good watch. If you’re a fan of the musical or even just The Wizard of Oz, I think you’d enjoy it.