A Spoiler-Free Wicked Review From a Lifelong Ozian
I've been dancing through life for as long as I can remember!
Happy holidays, everyone! I hope you had a nice week, whether you visited family, avoided them entirely, or created your own traditions. This week, I wanted to write about something I can’t stop talking about (and you’ve probably been seeing all over the place): WICKED!
If you weren't a theatre kid or don’t generally enjoy musicals, you’re probably sick of hearing about this dang movie. The long press tour, all of the ads, the memes, etc.
I’m one of those many people who has been waiting for this movie for YEARS. I’ve been a fan of the show since the national tour came to Richmond when I was in middle school, but my love for this story and these characters is much deeper than that.
My favorite movie is (and will always be) The Wizard of Oz (1939). I love that movie with all of my tin-man heart. And when I say love, I mean LOVE. I probably watched it almost 100 times when I was a kid. The VHS got stuck in our TV so I used to watch it over and over and over again. It never, ever gets old—the costumes, the dance numbers, the technicolor, JUDY! I just watched it recently and I can practically quote the entire thing. I share this to say: I’ve escaped to Oz for as long as I could remember.
Now, back to the Wicked movie. Here are my rapid SPOILER-FREE takeaways:
The cast is sensational! Cynthia, Ariana, Jonathan, Michelle, Jeff, the list goes on and on. Each actor played their respective characters so well and gave their own spin to them. Cynthia and Ariana both shine so bright—I hope they both win an Oscar! Also the fact that they sang live on set? Incredible!
It is a long movie, but the almost 3 hours fly by (pun intended). When I watched it the second time, it didn’t feel nearly as long. It has a nice balance of musical numbers, action, and serious moments. Each scene really does feel important and does a great job building the world of Oz and these characters.
The subtle nods to the Wizard of Oz and the original Broadway show are brilliant. Each time you watch it, you’ll notice small details that hint at the versions of Oz we know and love. There are also some surprise cameos in Emerald City. I won’t ruin these surprises — just be on the lookout!
After 20 years of people knowing this show, the story’s message still stands and it still brings us to tears. A message promoting individuality and following your dreams against all odds will never get old.
I’ve seen Wicked twice and I plan on seeing it at least one more time in theaters. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Wicked’s Act II that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: There are bridges you cross you didn't know you crossed until you've crossed.
Thankful for all of you!
With love,
Fletcher Rowe
What have I been listening to? I’m sure you can guess: the Wicked movie soundtrack AND the original Broadway cast recording! (Hearing Ariana and Cynthia sing “For Good” is simply going to break me in 2025.)