Is Wicked worth the hype?

Never has there been such an exhausting endless marketing campaign – it has been impossible to escape. But is Wicked actually any good?

Willkommen! Bienvenue! Welcome!

Firstly, let’s lay our cards on the table. I adore a musical. I love a musical film. My favourite film is Grease 2. I was enchanted by old school Hollywood movies when I was growing up too. They felt glamourous, romantic and I lived for the big numbers that dripped with exhausting choreography.

Wicked and I were always going to hopefully get along. But the stakes were high with this one. I, like many, have seen the show many times on the West End. I’ve listened to the soundtrack for many years with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in the lead roles for decades. I really didn’t want them to fuck it up.

Considering it took them so long for this film to come to fruition, the signs were there that they were constantly waiting for the right people to work on it. The right director (props to Jon M. Chu for nailing it). The right cast. The right everything. The fans wouldn’t have let them mess it up – zero second chances would be given.

Like many Wicked fans, I was scared that Ariana Grande might not shape up as an actress. That the songs would be messed with. That the land of Oz wouldn’t match up to my vivid imagination. It was a nerve-wracking experience arriving at the cinema yesterday.

Fortunately, my fears remained in my anxious subconscious. I shouldn’t have worried.

This is a sure-fire movie hit for me. Almost so much so that I question why they’ve hit it so hard with a global marketing campaign which must have stretched into over £100 million. I guess these days no film company takes any chances when it comes to making a film a success – especially when there’s a Part 2 coming next Winter.

The reviews have been mixed, to say the least, so I was avoiding reading them. The thing about Wicked is it’s never been a critics favourite. It never reached the dizzying heights of being an ‘all across the board’ favourite. The fans were the ones who made the show a winner from the get-go.

So, dear reader, ignore the critics that have slammed this that and the other. I feel like I’m in a position of power as a fan of Wicked to deliver on this one. Just go see it. Don’t be put off by any casting – it’s all fabulous. Don’t be put off by it being nearly three hours long. I didn’t look at my phone once and was shocked we’d been there and it held my attention for that long without any swerving. Don’t even be put off by the crisp and popcorn crunchers in the cinema. They all softly stopped crunching as the film got into the swing of the numbers.

What feels so exciting about this one is the fact it’s a story that hits home so well now. It works for all sorts of movie fans. Oz if brought to life giving the geeky movie fans a nice taste of technology and CGI. The girls and gays can ogle at a fantastic Jonathan Bailey in his Oz garbs and perfectly slightly annoying Fiyero role. The music – written by Stephen Schwartz – is heightened to such huge levels for this big screen adventure. Hell, I welled up big time during the Defying Gravity finale. The storyline is so relatable about two friends coming together and parting - with each choosing different life paths but still holding so much love for one another. It’s just the best.

To be frank, I skipped out of that cinema wanting to get a broomstick and fly off to Oz. How very Dorothy of me…

Oh, and then we get to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s performances. Best Actor Oscar and Best Supporting Oscar shoe-ins if you ask me. Reality is they’ll probably get the Globes…as the Academy rarely, if ever, support musicals. But Cynthia’s screen presence is unmatchable right now and how brilliant that she’s getting this moment to bask in the glory of playing Elphaba. Instantly one of Hollywood’s most in demand actresses. Matching her together with Ariana to play Glinda the good witch is a stroke of genius. Two epic voices that together capture the original harmonical fireworks of Idina and Kristin (the two original witches make a wondrous cameo also!).

This isn’t a long newsletter – it’s more just a “you make sure you go out there and see this one on the big screen” call out. I’m terrible when it comes to hype online and with marketing camapigns. If I see it too much I avoid it like the plague and won’t watch a show online. I detest herd mentality. But this feels more than worth it to me. Hilariously, I can’t wait to see it again. Sometimes you just gotta be honest.

Just spreading some joy on this mighty fine winter’s morning.

Until next time, Kids.

BTW - this was an awesome watch too….they’re the real deal ;-)