Adapting Stephen Schwartz's legendary Broadway musical Wicked for the silver screen was definitely not for the faint hearted. But last year’s first part of that adaptation was a box office, culture crushing, award season buzzing success. Now Wicked: For Good is not a sequel, it's a clear cut down the middle of the story, the second act of the musical. This is no mean feat and carries with it a raft of challenges. With a darker tone and way more at stake, Wicked: For Good fulfills the promises of the first installment giving us a magical, whimsical, and heartfelt conclusion to our journey down the yellow brick road. 

 

Now demonized as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba lives in exile in the Ozian forest, while Glinda resides at the palace in Emerald City, reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, she'll need to reunite with Glinda to transform herself, and all of Oz, for good.

 

Narratively we pick up right where we left off, thrown back into the world of Oz and its inhabitants. Wicked: For Good is not as cheerful as its first part due to the struggle at the very heart of Oz for ultimate power and control. While the oppression of the animals is not quite as personal as it was with Dr. Dillamond in Wicked, the propaganda machine and manipulation of the people of Oz is particularly haunting and confronting. 

 

But Wicked: For Good has some heart soaring moments amongst it all from Elphaba’s powerful ballad No Good Deed Goes Unpunished to Jeff Goldblum’s whimsical Wonderful and the lovers duet As Long As You’re Mine are absolute highlights. The way in which they insert the story of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz is incredible and really helps to break up the darker tones of the film. 

 

What helps to make Wicked: For Good soar is that the filmmakers completely land the final act; it ties up all of the loose ends and feels wholly emotionally satisfying. The production design here is incredible too from the grand architectural landscape of the City of Oz to the beauty of the Ozian forest, Wicked: For Good has the feel that this was a film made in old Hollywood in the best possible way. 

 

But Wicked: For Good belongs to its two main stars in Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. They are absolutely superb here, the beating heart and soul of the film and bring to the roles such gravitas and star power. 

 

With a darker tone and way more at stake, Wicked: For Good fulfills the promises of the first installment giving us a magical, whimsical, and heartfelt conclusion to our journey down the yellow brick road.