“Wicked: For Good” Review

Miriam Krasinski, Grade 10, Staff Writer

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After a year’s wait, the sequel to the movie adaptation of the beloved Broadway show Wicked hit the theaters on November 21st. Wicked: For Good follows Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba as she continues her journey as the exiled and demonized Wicked Witch, relentlessly fighting for the rights of Animals.

    “I was expecting a lot more - it was more average than expected,” says Oumou Diallo(‘28). Common Sense examines where the film falls short.

        Expectations for Wicked: For Good were high, as the first movie grossed nearly a billion dollars worldwide and inspired countless memes, homages, and viral moments. 

    Those familiar with the Broadway show were eager to relive the magic, and those experiencing the story for the first time were equally excited to discover the ending. 

    Even though the marketing and PR campaigns were quieter compared to the first one, the hype from the first movie fueled the yearlong anticipation for the sequel. 

    At the same time, fans worried the sequel was doomed. The original Broadway show’s second act, serving as the blueprint for the movie, has been criticized as dimmer in nearly every respect than the dazzling first act. 

    However, the fact that the show’s second act was weaker did not have to be a liability on the movie adaptation, but rather an opportunity: an opportunity to improve the original’s flaws, an opportunity to end the film franchise with a bang. An opportunity that Wicked’s writers, sadly, failed to seize.

Overall, one of the main flaws of the film was its unfortunate pacing. Eliana Psachie(‘29) recalls,“The pacing for the sequel was a bit slower, which made the sequel more boring and tedious.”

    Ironically, the plot itself felt rushed and erratic. The first movie focused on one time period, Elphaba's time in school, which made it clear and understandable. 

    The second act in its incorporation of elements from the classic Wizard of Oz takes place in different places and, seemingly, different times. Many viewers were unsure how much time had passed between various scenes, as it was neither clearly stated nor obvious from the context. 

    The first movie had many memorable tunes, performed by the incomparable Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The second film’s bland score did not live up to its predecessor's high bar, much like its Broadway counterpart. 

    Zaina River (‘27) believes, “Most of the songs in the second half, even when live, aren’t as entertaining as the first.” 

    The vibes of the two movies were nearly polar opposite. Teddy Hoffnung(‘29) remarked, “The vibes felt different, as was the story and theme. It did not feel like I was watching a sequel to the first movie.” 

    While both movies share the same underlying message about the dangers of nationalism and racism, the second movie fails to incorporate the whimsical and magical elements present in the first, resulting in inconsistency and monotony.

The one silver lining is strong performances from its cast, which kept the movie watchable. Gabe Perez(‘27) says that the actor's performances “properly brought the characters to life on the big screen, creating an enjoyable experience for all.”

In the end, despite its many flaws, Wicked: For Good wasn’t a disaster; it just wasn't the triumphant finale fans hoped for, leaving us with a quiet sense of wasted potential.