The final chapter of Jon M. Chu’s two-part cinematic adaptation of Wicked arrives with high expectations and even higher pressure. ‘Wicked’ is not just any other Broadway musical, after all. It is an international sensation, a cultural phenomenon, a generational story of friendship, identity, and fate.
The initial movie, which was released in 2024, was a huge box office success. It demonstrated that Chu was able to respect the magic of the source material and adapt it to the big screen. However, ‘Wicked: For Good’ takes the stakes higher as it tries to give a close to one of the most popular stories in musical theater.
‘Wicked: For Good’ Offers A Heartfelt Ending, But Elphaba Deserves Better
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo once again deliver performances so emotionally charged, so musically pristine, and so deeply intertwined that the film often feels at its strongest whenever the two share the screen. Their relationship is electric, their connection is plausible, and their voices are spellbinding. However, the sequel isn’t perfect. Certain narrative decisions, like Elphaba’s climax, do not give the story the emotional payoff it requires. Despite its flaws, ‘Wicked: For Good’ is a spectacular farewell that will stay with the viewers.
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There’s a reason fans were captivated by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s highly emotional press tour two years ago. The two, in the process of shooting the film, developed a real bond. In the first movie, we saw how Glinda and Elphaba despised each other and how their friendship grew strong enough to overcome Shiz’s gossip. We saw their insecurities and even the machinations of the Wizard. In ‘For Good’, however, the emotional landscape becomes more shadowy, more complicated, and more adult.
Politics, morality, the opinion of people, and unattainable decisions challenge their relationship. Having been pushed into the limelight as a hollow political figurehead, Glinda receives much more narrative attention in the sequel. Grande meets the challenge with grace and confidence, and gives Glinda a richness she has never been granted in previous versions. With that said, the script does spend too much time on Glinda’s inner monologue.
Songs such as the new ‘The Girl in the Bubble’ seem to be redundant, rather than a continuation of the musical. Although the song is not bad, it does not contribute much. Erivo, predictably, once again takes over the screen with her presence. Her character is a pure showstopper. She portrays Elphaba as a woman who bears the burden of injustice on her shoulders, and each note, each look, each gesture is addressed to a lifetime of being misunderstood.
But there’s an imbalance here that the film never quite resolves. The ending of Glinda’s arc is emotionally clear, but Elphaba’s conclusion is much weaker. It’s a bad consequence of the narrative decisions of the original musical. For a character so deeply beloved, her ending feels underpowered compared to Glinda’s cathartic, beautifully earned transformation.
‘Wicked: For Good’ Is A Visual Feast But Not Every Moment Lands
Jon M. Chu definitely knew about the criticism of the visuals of the first film, which were considered by some viewers to be washed out. The world of Oz was not as lively as it should have been, whether it was because of lighting, color grading, or even the choice of style. The follow-up is deliberate and purposeful. The sets feel richer. The scenery is more surreal. The lighting does not flatten dramatic beats but emphasizes them. It has texture, dimension, and, thankfully, a little more whim.
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However, the costuming is what really takes the cake. Glinda’s wardrobe was iconic. Her appearance in this movie is all glitz and glamour, with pink gowns that are full of tulle and sparkle, and cloud-like capes that shimmer. Elphaba’s outfits swing between grounded fugitive gear and witchy, iconic silhouettes that remind us why she remains one of theater’s most enduring figures.
‘For Good’ is more visually similar to what viewers envisioned when the two-part adaptation was announced. It is dramatic, exaggerated, and personality-filled. However, as the movie approaches its emotionally charged climax, the same issue comes back to haunt it: the love story between Elphaba and Fiyero is weak. Grande and Erivo both exude lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry, yet the love story that is meant to define much of Elphaba’s emotional story does not ignite in the same manner.
They never seem to be as intense as fans expect them to be. When their relationship becomes central to Elphaba’s fate, the emotional investment isn’t there to support the payoff. And that is where the movie falters most evidently. Glinda’s resolution feels triumphant, heartbreaking, and fulfilling. Elphaba’s feelings softened, even awkwardly rushed. ‘Wicked: For Good’ is a moving and visually rich ending to one of the best stories on Broadway. Is it perfect? No. But is it magical? Yes.
