Wicked: For Good Review – The Spellbinding Conclusion to the Epic Adventure

Last year, I saw the stage musical of Wicked in London for the first time. It was just magical. The same year, Wicked, the first part of the film adaption to the stage production, came out. I watched it and subsequently loved it; 10 out of 10 easily. I waited with anticipation for a whole year to see how the second part would be adapted to the big screen, which was given the name Wicked: For Good. And it is any good? Let’s find out in this review!

Wicked: For Good is now available in theaters. Spoilers will be avoided in this review.

Story – No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Wicked: For Good continues on sometime after the events of Wicked. Elphaba (aka the Wicked Witch) is on the run from the Wizard of Oz, seeking to expose him as a fraud and save the animals he has stripped of their rights. Meanwhile, Glinda (the Good Witch) has been chosen to help the Wizard with keeping up the spirits of the Ozians, despite her clear discomfort.

Glinda at least has Prince Fiyero, now the captain of the Gale Force (aka the guards out searching for Elphaba), with them planning to get married. Fiyero is too struggling in his new role as he is forced to hunt down his former friend – but he is also still harboring feelings for Elphaba.

Following the death of her (and Elphaba’s) father, Nessarose is now governor. She is struggling to deal with the events surrounding Elphaba, as she blames her for their father’s sudden passing and is resentful that Elphaba turned her back on her. Meanwhile, Boq is living with her, with Nessarose infatuated with him, but Boq has other ideas. Nessarose is desperate to make sure he never leaves her – with dire consequences.

If you’ve seen the original stage production, you’ll know what part two of Wicked means: the arrival of Dorothy, and her journey to the city of Oz, along with the Tinman, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion, as they seek out the Wizard and go after the Wicked Witch (Elphaba).

Same Production, Same Story

Pretty much everything that happens in the original show happens here in Wicked: For Good, so if you’ve seen the production, you’ll know what’s coming. However, the magic comes from adapting it to the big screen. The story is all there, and everything you need to make sure it’s told not only well, but wonderfully.

A Few Notable Extras

There were some additions to the movie, however, that worked well for further exploring the characters. Notably, you learn why Glinda is so eager to be liked, based on her childhood experiences. Basically, keep smiling and all will be well. It plays in brilliantly not just in For Good, but Wicked as well. There was also a short but beautifully subtle scene where you see a flashback of Elphaba, Glinda, Fiyero, Boq, and Nessarose during their school days, when times were happier, drumming in how much things have changed since then.

Naturally, several characters from Wicked returned to For Good. Doctor Dillamond makes an important reappearance, just as he did in the stage production, but another character from Wicked makes a welcome appearance: Dulcibear (Sharon D. Clarke), the bear nanny of Elphaba and Nessarose, which makes the mission for Elphaba to save the animals all the more personal, and for the viewers to root for her success.

More insight is given into Glinda’s desire to be popular with her peers.

Characters & Performances – Simply Brilliant

The cast of Wicked: For Good ensure that the spirit of Wicked continues into the follow-up movie. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo both do absolutely stellar jobs once again, neither trying to outdo the other but rather complementing each other’s performances beautifully. Glinda’s struggle with putting on a smile while worrying for her outcasted friend shines every time she’s on screen, and Elphaba’s transformation as she (reluctantly) embraces the Wicked Witch of the West role is clear to see. Their natural chemistry, even when they’re not in the same scene, blooms throughout the movie.

Every single actor does a fantastic performance in Wicked: For Good. The charming Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) is back, but so is his endearing rebellious streak. The smooth-talking Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) dazzles when he’s on-screen. Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) oozes with her cunning and manipulation. 

There’s no questioning the chemistry between the two big stars in Wicked: For Good.

Notable Mentions

Personally though, even though everyone did a spectacular job, the best performances were probably from Boq (Ethan Slater) and Nessarose (Marissa Bode).

Nessarose’s innocence from the first half seems to have been lost after the death of her father, leaving her resentful of Elphaba and so desperate to cling onto the one person she feels she has left, Boq, that she resorts to desperate measures. Every time Nessarose appears on screen, she commands attention without demanding it. She’s just too compelling to ignore.

Boq is equally struggling as he wishes to leave Nessarose for Glinda, but is forced back, leaving him bitter. He’s a far cry from the cheerful chap you saw in Wicked happily dancing with Nessarose. It gets much worse for him later as Nessarose takes it too far with making him stay with her. All Boq’s scenes are great, but the later ones really bring out a side to him that was awe-inspiring to watch.

Every performer brings their character to life.

Cinematography – Looks Gorgeous

In Wicked, the way the world was brought to life on the big screen was just fabulous. Despite its fantastical setting, everything looked so real, and simply stunning to look at. The setting of Wicked is one that will never get tiring of seeing over and over. The same happens in Wicked: For Good, with more wonderful sets to admire.

The CGI, just as before, is seamless and done to immaculate detail. Nothing looks off. The CGI blends in perfectly with reality, creating further immersion into the world of Wicked.

Another impressive visual aspect of Wicked: For Good, just as in the first installment, are the gorgeous costumes. Once again the costume department did not fail to disappoint in the slightest.

In a nutshell, Wicked: For Good is just a stunning movie to look at.

Wicked: For Good has a consistently great look about it.

Sound – More Fantastic Songs

We cannot possibly do this review of Wicked: For Good without discussing the songs, since this is a musical. The songs from the first movie were just out of this world, especially the jawdropping showstopper “Defying Gravity”. In For Good, the selection of musical numbers continue to impress. Every song is sung with passion, every performer putting their all into the numbers the same way as the acting.

Special mention go to “No Good Deed”, which feels as impactful as “Defying Gravity”, as Elphaba embraces her dark side in the Wicked Witch. Another number to look out for is “No Place Like Home”, a new song exclusive to For Good performed by Elphaba to the animals as they flee Oz. It just feels so heartfelt and raw, making you stop and listen.

No Good Deed and No Place Like Home from Elphaba are two notable songs.

Editing & Pacing – Just the Right Length

Wicked is quite a long film, with a rough runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes. If you prefer shorter films, then fortunately, For Good is half an hour shorter, sitting quite comfortably at 2 hours and 15 minutes approximately. It’s long enough to not feel too short, but not too long to feel like it’s dragging on. Every scene, every moment, every line, feels meaningful.

It gets to the point without rushing anything too much – although there are one or two scenes that could benefit from a little extra time, notably scenes that were quite key to the story and could have left a further impact had they received even an extra half minute’s screen time.