FILM
WICKED
Magic: Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.
DING DONG, THE WITCH IS ALIVE
★★★★
OUT NOW / CERT PG / 160 MINS
DIRECTOR
John M. Chu
CAST
Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum
PLOT
The early story of Oz’s future Wicked Witch Of The West, Elphaba (Erivo), and her perky college roommate, Glinda (Grande).
IT’S NEVER EASY to adapt a deeply loved story. The musical of Wicked, based on Gregory Maguire’s prequel novel to The Wizard Of Oz, has bred the sort of fandom that has strong feelings about particular trills in the original cast recording, but afilm version must reach new audiences and win over the musical-resistant. Full marks for bravery, then, to director Jon M. Chu and stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who not only fill these big, ruby slippers but tap-tap gaily away in them. Chu uses every bell and whistle possible to turn the stage show into a movie epic. He takes the classic MGM Oz as his starting point, with gigantic sets and a massive cast of dancers. Then he adds VFX flourishes: talking animals, levitating courtyards and flying monkeys. The artificial glow of such heavy effects-work is largely an asset, contributing to the otherworldly air of Oz, even if none of it ever feels remotely real.