Wicked: For Good, 2025 - ★★★★

To begin, I’ve never read the novel or seen any Wicked musicals. My only familiarity with the story comes from the image of Dorothy and her three unusual companions in Oz. I was also unfamiliar with any songs from the second part before watching it. Therefore, this review comes from a fresh perspective, free of prior bias, except for the experience of the first movie, of course.

That being said, I expected Wicked: For Good to focus on Elphaba bringing down The Wizard, perhaps with secret allies like Glinda and Fiyero, but nope. Instead, it mostly shows Elphaba slipping in and out of the city to casually catch up with people before spontaneously deciding to leave. What a disappointing character arc for someone with such badass potential.

I suppose you can only keep Defying Gravity for so long before reality pulls you back down.

In fact, Wicked: For Good seems to center more on Glinda's story than Elphaba's. Glinda is the true highlight, especially in her performance of The Girl in the Bubble—a song I hope will receive a Best Song nomination this year. Her character arc is deeply satisfying to witness, layered with depth and nuance.

I appreciate how the movie explores the nuances of what defines good and wicked, revealing how everyone grapples with choices and consequences shaped by personal motives and beliefs. By the end, my perception of the phrase "For Good" evolved, taking on a deeper, more layered significance.

I genuinely enjoyed the cast and their performances; they fully embodied their roles, allowing me to connect with each character. Unfortunately, Michelle Yeoh stood out as the weakest link, underperforming even more than in the first movie. It felt as if she was forced into the role, her heart just wasn't in it.

Although I appreciate the core message and support the characters' charm, several aspects feel like a step down from the first film. The pacing, for one, is awkward, and the narrative feels all over the place. They tried to cram in so many storylines without a clear, cohesive thread to tie them together. Despite the large cast and the film's length, there are surprisingly few heartfelt conversations that resolve conflicts. Most characters' development is barely explored, leaving many storylines open-ended and delivering only a hollow promise of closure. Additionally, the social and political themes hinted at early in the film lack depth or any substance. Animals exist merely to prop our protagonists up, and make the bad guys look bad, and that's about it.

Secondly, the musical numbers feel somewhat lackluster, lacking energy and novelty. Many seemed lifeless most of the time, and I can't quite pinpoint exactly why they seemed that way compared to the first movie. Perhaps it's the cinematography, editing, songs, choreography, performances, lighting, color grading, or a mix of these elements. They just simply didn't evoke much of emotional resonance that Wicked Part 1 delivered. It's a bit of a shame, as the musical numbers were what I anticipated most.

Finally, while I understand shifting the focus away from Dorothy since this story isn't about her, it's frustrating how the film tiptoes around scenes showing her figure but never her face. This unnecessary mystery builds false expectations of narrative foreshadowing. I wish they’d just shown her face once and moved on, instead of distracting me with constant anticipation. Moreover, Dorothy's three companions—who could have enriched Elphaba's arc—are glossed over and underused. Frankly, these four could have been left out entirely without affecting the narrative, as they felt included merely for the sake of it.

Overall, while Wicked For Good may not match the first movie's caliber, I thoroughly enjoyed its world-building, excellent production values, and costumes, as well as the journeys of its remarkable characters and charming musical numbers. It may not offer a fully satisfying conclusion, but I'm glad to see this story told with such quality and passion.

P.S. Maybe I'm heartless, but Elphaba's sister comes across as so entitled that I just don't care for her. Madame Morrible might be truly evil, but to me, Nessa is the real witch of the story for hiding her wickedness behind those sad puppy eyes.