"Wicked: For Good" Falls Flat Despite Stellar Cast and Direction
Cynthia Erivo is a force to be reckoned with, bringing depth and nuance to her portrayal of Elphaba in the sequel to "Wicked: For Good". The film's visuals are also noteworthy, boasting gorgeously realized sets and design that transport viewers to the magical land of Oz. However, beneath its stunning surface, the movie stumbles due to fundamental storytelling issues.
The narrative fails to deliver a cohesive message or meaningful commentary on its titular theme of resistance against a fascist state. Instead, it veers wildly between themes, often resulting in jarring tonal shifts that detract from the overall viewing experience. The character development, too, is marred by rushed beats and forgettable songs, leaving viewers feeling disconnected from the story.
The film's attempts to subvert expectations of "The Wizard of Oz" fall flat, relying on convenient plot devices and shallow critiques rather than genuine deconstruction. This approach feels like a shallow exercise in trying to be edgy, rather than a thoughtful exploration of its themes. As a result, the movie feels more like a glossy spectacle than a thought-provoking work of art.
Despite these shortcomings, "Wicked: For Good" is likely to remain a commercial success, thanks in large part to its built-in fanbase and Erivo's undeniable talent. However, for those seeking a meaningful cinematic experience, this film remains a shallow waste of resources. Even the most ardent fans may find themselves checking their watches as the movie plods along, searching for something more substantial beneath its surface.
Grade: D+
Cynthia Erivo is a force to be reckoned with, bringing depth and nuance to her portrayal of Elphaba in the sequel to "Wicked: For Good". The film's visuals are also noteworthy, boasting gorgeously realized sets and design that transport viewers to the magical land of Oz. However, beneath its stunning surface, the movie stumbles due to fundamental storytelling issues.
The narrative fails to deliver a cohesive message or meaningful commentary on its titular theme of resistance against a fascist state. Instead, it veers wildly between themes, often resulting in jarring tonal shifts that detract from the overall viewing experience. The character development, too, is marred by rushed beats and forgettable songs, leaving viewers feeling disconnected from the story.
The film's attempts to subvert expectations of "The Wizard of Oz" fall flat, relying on convenient plot devices and shallow critiques rather than genuine deconstruction. This approach feels like a shallow exercise in trying to be edgy, rather than a thoughtful exploration of its themes. As a result, the movie feels more like a glossy spectacle than a thought-provoking work of art.
Despite these shortcomings, "Wicked: For Good" is likely to remain a commercial success, thanks in large part to its built-in fanbase and Erivo's undeniable talent. However, for those seeking a meaningful cinematic experience, this film remains a shallow waste of resources. Even the most ardent fans may find themselves checking their watches as the movie plods along, searching for something more substantial beneath its surface.
Grade: D+
! Cynthia Erivo is literally a gift to Oz, but even her amazing performance can't save this mess. The story is all over the place - it's like they took every theme from high school creative writing class and mashed them together into one confusing mess 
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. The whole film feels like it's trying too hard to be cool and subversive, but really it's just shallow and tries way too hard 
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. Maybe I'll watch it again with fresh eyes or something, but for now, I'm just gonna give it 2 stars and call it a day 
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. The cast is super talented, especially Cynthia Erivo who's amazing as Elphaba. But, the story kinda falls apart 
. It tries to tackle some big themes like resistance against fascism but ends up being all over the place 
. The songs are forgettable and the plot is just too rushed. I get why they wanted to be edgy but it feels like they're trying too hard 
. If you're a die-hard Wicked fan, you might still enjoy it, but if you're looking for something with some substance, you might want to look elsewhere 
. It's like a big ol' shiny spectacle that doesn't really deliver on the inside 
and the sets are insane 
but honestly, the storytelling just felt so meh. i get that it's hard to make a sequel that lives up to the original but still... it should've tried harder 
the message was all over the place and the songs were forgettable 
i love wicked so much but this one didnt do it justice 
i mean cythia erivo is AMAZING as elphaba but that's about it lol the story is all over the place like it cant make up its mind what it wants to say or show u 
and dont even get me started on the songs theyre so forgettable 
i feel bad for the cast cuz they're trying their best but it just feels like a pretty surface level movie 
They're trying to make some kind of point about resistance against a fascist state, but it just doesn't come across. It's like they're throwing a bunch of themes at the wall and hoping something sticks 
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but this one just didnt do it for me. i was expecting some deep commentary on resistance and stuff but instead it just felt like a bunch of random themes mashed together 
, no doubt about it, but the storytelling is just so...meh 
. It's like they were trying too hard to be edgy and clever instead of actually saying something real 
and that's what matters. Let's not forget, we're talking about a musical here, not a documentary 
. Give it some credit for trying something new! 