⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was both excited and nervous going into this. Wicked: Part One set the bar incredibly high and it’s a well-known fact that the second act of the musical doesn’t hold up to the first. But Wicked: For Good manages to land the emotional payoff in a way that feels satisfying, even if it doesn’t quite reach the same magic as its predecessor.
Synopsis:
Picking up where the first film left off, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is now living as the so-called Wicked Witch of the West, hunted, misunderstood, and determined to expose the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), while Glinda (Ariana Grande) embraces her new role as the polished public figure of Oz, now engaged to Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) who has become head guard of Oz. As the girls’ lives move in completely different directions, the consequences of their choices begin to ripple across the land. With the Wizard’s control tightening and truths coming to light, both women are forced to confront who they’ve become, and what they’re willing to sacrifice for the greater good.
What works:
💚The emotional core between Elphaba and Glinda is still the heart of the film. Their friendship; complicated, fractured, but never fully broken, hits just as hard, if not harder, this time around. This is for the most part due to Erivo and Grande. Their performances are fantastic. The chemistry between them carries so much of the story, especially in the quieter, more reflective moments.
💚The supporting cast really shines as well. Bailey brings a surprising amount of depth to Fiyero, allowing him to evolve beyond just the charming love interest into someone with real emotional – and physical – stakes. Marissa Bode continues to ground Nessarose with a quiet vulnerability that makes her arc more tragic and impactful.
💚The music delivers. The big numbers feel earned, and when “For Good” hits, it really lands.
💚The stakes feel higher here, and the film leans into the darker, more tragic elements of the story in a way that works.
What doesn’t work:
🎶It doesn’t quite have the same sense of wonder as the first film which is understandable, but very noticeable.
🎶Some pacing issues pop up in the middle, where the story feels like it’s trying to juggle a lot at once. It’s also quite long, and while the two new songs, “Girl in The Bubble” and “No Place Like Home”, are good, they feel like they’re reaching for that Oscar’s ‘Best Original Song’ category.
🎶A few plot threads feel slightly rushed, especially as the film moves toward its conclusion. This likely comes down to the screenplay by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox trying to fit a lot of emotional and narrative payoff into a limited runtime.
Final thoughts:
Despite its shortcomings, Wicked: For Good is an emotional, fitting conclusion that understands what makes this story so beloved. It might not surpass Part One, but it doesn’t need to. It delivers where it counts and leaves you feeling exactly what it wants you to feel.
Chante JVR 
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