Wicked: A Film that Truly Defies Gravity

It’s time to try defying gravity, and that is exactly what the film Wicked did. This wildly popular Broadway musical took its plot line and songs to Hollywood and completely stunned audiences with the graphics and acting.

Wicked follows the story of Elphaba, the notorious “Wicked Witch of The West”, from her verdant birth to her role as “Wicked”. She repulses society with her green skin and magical powers, and without the kindness of Glinda, one of her fellow classmates, Elphaba would be experiencing life as an outcast. Glinda and Elphaba form a strong relationship that only grows stronger as the movie progresses. Their unbreakable relationship influenced my outlook on the movie, and despite my iffy opinion on the choice of actresses, I fell in love with the Wicked film. 

The relationship between Elphaba and Glinda is one of the larger plot lines in the film. The movie is centered around Elphaba’s green skin and magical powers, which both make her an outcast throughout her life. At the beginning of the film, Glinda saw Elphaba as an idolized freak because of her abnormal traits. They both were repulsed by the idea of being around each other, but when unexpectedly being placed as roommates in a prestigious prep school, they were forced to get to know each other. The two became inseparable best friends throughout their time understanding each other and also were able to channel emotion for each other that they were never capable of feeling before, which I see to be the greatest reward of their dynamic relationship. Because the film was longer than the norm, spanning over 150 minutes, the “enemies to friends” trope was developed in immense detail. With each dramatic song, facial expression, and word spoken the two grew fonder of each other, resulting in a strong friendship. 

Both of the main actresses have extensive acting experience, which made them a pivotal choice for such a popular film. Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, has been acting since 2008, premiering on both Broadway and Nickelodeon, and Cynthia Erivo, the actress playing Elphaba, has been acting for many years since her enrollment in a prestigious arts school in Europe. I felt like the production each cast member put on to play their role was very rehearsed and mentally channeled. I was able to interpret each scene without dialogue, which is very impressive. 

One drawback I saw with the film was Grande’s voice. In each song she sang; I found it very difficult to comprehend the words she was signing, and frankly, her voice seemed more high pitched than usual. However, I do respect Grande and her talent because she has found much success in the world of music, and I am a fan of hers. 

As someone who has seen the Broadway production of Wicked, I was thrilled about the news of the movie coming out. I adore musicals and theatrical soundtracks, and having another one of my favorite genres come to life in a movie was riveting. Some of my favorite musical film adaptations include Mamma Mia and the Greatest Showman. After watching Wicked, I would say this film adaptation fulfilled the glory I assign to many other of my favorite musical movies, and the national accolades it is receiving are justified. It intertwined music very well into the plot line and I loved it.

I would recommend this film to families, specifically teenagers and their parents. The length and extensive conversation may be boring to younger kids, but that is to be expected. This film is also perfect for a date night, girls night out, or a solo movie watching experience. I hope that all of you are able to pick up on the wonderful character development from the two main characters as shown through two incredible actresses. 

About the Contributor

Peyton is a senior, class of 2025. This is her second year on The Shield staff. Here at Aquinas, she runs track, is a board member of the Key Club, and on the bowling team. She is also a Peer Mentor and a Senior Ambassador. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, listening to music, and hanging out with family and friends.