Discover the Magic Behind 'Wicked' - 91% on Rotten Tomatoes!

Film 'Wicked' Reviews and Analysis

Ratings

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% (based on 117 reviews)
IMDb: 7.8/10
Metacritic: 72/100

Wicked has received high scores across most rating sites. The 91% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes reflects overwhelming critical acclaim. The 7.8 score on IMDb shows that general audiences are also quite positive about the film. Metacritic's 72 points corresponds to "generally favorable reviews," indicating the overall quality of the film is excellent.

Critics' Assessments

Wicked has garnered mostly positive reviews from critics. Peter DeBruge (Variety) noted that "the film is still gloriously excessive, but in a glorious way" and that "Wicked has found its ideal form." Kristin Lopez (Kristomania) praised it as "one of the most beautiful and ambitious musical films we've seen in years, comparable to the best works of the old Hollywood era."

David Rooney (Hollywood Reporter) called Jon M. Chu's direction "pure magic" and said it "perfectly balances grand scale and intimate moments." Rafer Guzman (Newsday) simply summarized it as "everything a musical film should be."

Actors' Performances

The lead performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have received widespread acclaim. Clayton Davis (Variety) stated, "Glinda is a role Ariana Grande was born to play. She fits perfectly and delivers a truly humorous, scene-stealing performance. Cynthia Erivo's heavenly vocals allow her to make Elphaba her own."

Lauren Veneziani (WBAL-TV) described the pair as "a perfect combination made in movie musical heaven." The supporting performances by Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater were also praised as "excellent."

Production Elements

The film's production design and costumes have been described as a "visual spectacle." Nathan Crowley's production design and Paul Tazewell's costume design received "excellent" reviews, while Alice Brooks' cinematography was deemed "consistently wondrous."

On the musical front, Stephen Schwartz's original music shines in the film. Schwartz integrated leitmotifs into the Wicked score, creating an opera-like musical structure. In particular, "Elphaba's theme" and the "Unlimited theme" serve as major musical motifs throughout the work.

General Audience Reactions

General audience reactions have been largely positive. One viewer commented, "Wicked was truly magical and enchanting. All the audience thoroughly enjoyed the performance. The actors were excellent and completely professional, and the music was amazing."

An IMDb user review stated, "Cynthia Erivo delivers a powerful and heartfelt performance as Elphaba, bringing raw emotion and deep strength to the character."

Key Themes

The film Wicked explores several important themes. Friendship and competition, identity and acceptance, good and evil, social injustice, and the power of choice emerge as major themes. It particularly portrays Elphaba's journey of self-discovery and acceptance as she experiences lifelong discrimination and bullying due to her green skin.

The film also addresses heavier themes of authoritarianism. According to Roger Ebert's review, "This is a world where minorities are hunted, imprisoned, and denied the opportunity to speak, and a charismatic leader (playfully evil Jeff Goldblum) persecutes women of color."

Critical Perspectives

Not all reviews are positive. Some critics described the film as "terrible" or "messy, too long, and ultimately incomplete." One IMDb user criticized, "There were moments in the film that felt rushed, and times that felt like they were dragging. By the end, I was tired of hearing another song."

Some critics also pointed out the film's awkward transitions between heavy themes and light fantasy. Roger Ebert's review noted that "in film form, the tone awkwardly shifts between bright wonder and dark oppression."

Conclusion

Wicked is being evaluated as a successful film adaptation of a Broadway musical. The combination of lavish production elements, powerful music, and outstanding performances by the lead actors has earned praise from most critics and audiences. While there are some critical perspectives, the prevailing assessment is that it is "everything a musical film should be."

The film goes beyond mere entertainment to explore themes of identity, acceptance, friendship, and social injustice, offering audiences the opportunity to view the story of the 'Wicked Witch' from a new perspective.

Meta Description: A comprehensive analysis of critics' and audiences' diverse reviews and evaluations of the film 'Wicked,' with in-depth consideration of performances, music, production elements, and key themes.

SEO Tags: Wicked movie, Wicked reviews, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jon M. Chu, musical film, Wicked ratings, Wicked criticism, Wicked analysis, Wizard of Oz

TastyMovie