Coming off last year’s blockbuster and Oscar wins with Wicked, Wicked: For Good faces the difficult task of creating an equally compelling part 1. Luckily, the source material already features a moment for intermission. Adapted from Schwartz and Holzman’s stage musical of the same name, Wicked: For Good promises all the splendor of Broadway on the silver screen. But more than splendor, Wicked: For Good promises not only a gripping conclusion to Elphaba and Galinda’s story, but also Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s time as the wonderful witches of Oz.
Wicked: For Good picks up shortly after the epic “Defying Gravity” moment at the climax of part 1. Galinda is a willing figurehead for The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). Elphaba is on the run and attempting to expose The Wizard for his lies. And all of Oz is in uproar over “the Wicked Witch.” Elphaba’s only solace comes through trying to free the enslaved animals, forced to construct The Wizard’s yellow brick road. Yet separated from each other, Elphaba and Galinda feel the pain of loss and suddenly feel more limited than ever before.
Relationships continue to grow in complexity with Wicked: For Good. As Elphaba and Galinda’s journeys are separate in location, their two paths have never been closer. Each feels the pain of loss, betrayal, and finally friendship, all within the “merry ol’ land of Oz.” Adding to the complexities, Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) and Galinda are engaged, The Wizard’s deception runs even deeper, and Elphaba embraces her wicked ways. All of this relationship chaos ensues as Dorothy finally begins her trek towards the Emerald City.
Performances in For Good are as stellar as the previous outing. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have tremendous chemistry both vocally and creatively. Like Elphiba and Galinda, the two performers work in tandem to create something magical. Erivo and Grande take all of the emotions from the entire odyssey and pour it all into every note, especially on the climactic “For Good.” Jonathan Bailey is charismatic and charming as ever, taking Fiyero from “Dancing Through Life” in part 1 to the man he will become in For Good. Though the rest of the emblem is less present in For Good, Bowen Yang still has a few hilarious lines, and Marissa Bode brings a full range of emotions as Nessa. Goldblum and Yeoh embody their characters with the gravitas of the two legends while maintaining the fun of Wicked.
From a pure songlist comparison, For Good does lack the Spotify takeover factor ever-present in Wicked. The film does not have a clear karaoke favorite like “Dancing Through Life” and “Popular” or a soaring opus like “Defying Gravity.” However, For Good is not without its own musicality and voice. “Wonderful,” let’s Goldblum, Grande, and Erivo channel Old Hollywood in the best way. “As Long As You’re Mine,” let’s Erivo and Bailey further showcase their vocal skills. “No Good Deed” lets Ervio flex her musical prowess. Still, “For Good” remains the emotional core of the film. Eviro and Grande can break even the most hardened heart with “For Good” and deliver the bittersweet anthem theater fans were yearning for.
Wicked had all the vibes of a comfort movie. The college setting, eclectic cast, vibrant characters, and tracks made for a sing-along addition. Just as part 1, For Good keeps the spectacular sets, costuming, and production design, but all built towards creating the comfy, nostalgic, and magical world of Oz. For Good keeps most of those elements. But For Good loses some of the comfort in the pursuit of a larger epic ending for Elphaba and Galinda. Elphaba and Galinda could not stay at Shiz University forever, and neither could the story. Where audiences may not return to For Good as often as Wicked, it’s because of the foundation built by Wicked that For Good packs the sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes euphoric weight that it does.
Being adapted from such a massive musical as Wicked gives For Good a colossal edge in making a great sequel. Some of the songs move the story less than the previous volume. And some early pacing speed-runs some more prominent emotional beats at the start. Nevertheless, Wicked: For Good, especially in its climax, brings the poignant, uplifting finale befitting characters like Elphaba and Glinda. For Good will do well at the box office and should see a return to the awards stage come Oscar season. Jon M. Chu once again shows his eye for musicality on the big screen. Grande and Erivo will forever have their moment in Oz. But For Good‘s biggest triumph is capturing the wonders of Broadway and combining them with the joys of the silver screen.
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