Oh my Oz, how do I review this movie without giving anything away? Well, let’s give it a try. 

Here’s my spoiler free review of Wicked For Good 

First off, I was surprised by how much was added to the second act while still staying totally true to the stage show. The additions to the script only serve to help the viewer understand the story, which can be difficult at times. Unless you’ve seen the show many, many times as I have, it can be hard to pick up on all the nuances and subtleties. And the book is a tough read, but there’s a lot of shiz in there. Jon M. Chu and the team clearly worked hard to make sure the viewer is following what’s really happening. Of course, there was also the need to fill in holes and round out the story in order to have enough content for a full second movie. 

My Favorite Part of Wicked For Good

Let’s talk about my favorite part. I’ve always been a big Fiyero fan. Before there was Jonathan Bailey, I loved Fiyero. That love dates back to the original Fiyero on Broadway, Norbert Leo Butz. For a year, I’ve been waiting just for that Elphaba and Fiyero scene. The performance of “As Long As You’re Mine” does not disappoint. I wasn’t alone in that satisfaction. Following that epic moment, the crowd in the theater cheered for the first time in the film. The second cheer, of course, came as the main characters embraced following their performance of “For Good.” 

The reveal of both the Tin Man and the Scarecrow is better than I could’ve expected. And the fact that they don’t reveal Dorothy is perfect. Just like the stage show, Dorothy is only a minor character and not one to be focused on.

If you watched the Wicked special One Wonderful Night on NBC, you got a very brief preview of the two new songs. Now that I’ve seen them both in their entirety I can say they are wonderful additions to the story. I’m sure “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl In The Bubble” were written to give Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, the lyricists, composers, etc. a chance to be nominated for Oscars for original song. And that’s ok. Goal achieved.

PS, don’t be like the people in my theater and go to the bathroom during Ari’s song. This film is shorter than the first and you can wait until the end. Got it? Ok, good. Let’s move on. 

Speaking of the Oscars, surely Jon M. Chu will be nominated this time around. He is a master of his craft and deserves all the accolades. 

With that said, I’ll conclude this review as I definitely don’t want to spoil anything for anyone. Just know that Wicked For Good is brilliant, beautiful and, well, wicked good.