The Wizard of Oz is one of those archetypal stories that retains its appeal from one generation to another. The original movie was a box office hit and 85 years later two more film spinoffs – ‘Wicked’ and the latest ‘Wicked for Good’ enjoy the same success.
All the original cast are back in this second instalment: Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), Ariana Grande (Galinda), Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible), Jeff Goldblum (the Wizard), Jonathon Bailey (Prince Fiyero) resume their previous roles.
The basic plot revolves around the close and increasingly conflictual relationship between the two witches. Ostensibly one good (Galinda) and one bad (Ephaba). As such it is a prequel to the original 1939 classic. Like last year’s film, this latest instalment has lead characters who are more than simple fairytale stereotypes.
Nowadays, even fantasy characters are not all ‘black and white’ (or, in this case, not all green and pale pink). This is most evident with the central character. While in the original 1939 version, the wicked witch was a completely malevolent character, in this film we can easily empathise with her. Furthermore, as the story unfolds, the two witches are drawn into a mutually beneficial pact which has them enforcing each other’s public personas. After all, the existence of one justifies the existence of the other.
Although these are the characters of a children’s fairy tale, they have a more than a touch of depth which is enhanced by the number of plot twists especially towards the end, most of which hark back to the original 1939 film. In a rather imaginative way, it weaves its story into the plot of that very first blockbuster. In the process, it answers a few questions (like how did the scarecrow originally become a scarecrow?) And, in one instance, it actually reverses a central aspect of that film’s climax. But then in whimsical fantasies like this, anything is possible.
Wicked for Good, 2025. Directed by Jon M.Chu.
The characters of the original film: Dorothy and her three friends are present but they – especially Dorothy – are peripheral to this story and are more background near the end of this film. Movie purists might find it a little difficult to reconcile the plot twists of this latest Oz instalment with the original film. But then the 1939 film also deviates a little from the original L. Frank Baum novel (where the slippers are silver not ruby, the wicked witch is not green and the ending is slightly different).
Like all whimsical tales, ‘Wicked for Good’ is all about illusion; We all already knew the Wizard is a simple fraud, a con artist who literally uses smoke and mirrors to great effect. But other illusions go deeper, specifically the motives and personalities of the two witches. It gradually it emerges that they actually need each other (a significant divergence from the original movie).
This is a children’s fairytale in the form of a musical. It is a fantasy about a mythical land and supernatural characters. The viewer has to suspend rational belief and go along for the ride taking in all the visuals, the music, the special effects and the plot twists.
As with all fairytales, we expect a ‘happily-ever-after’ ending but given that this is a prequel and we already know the original story, it can only be a ‘quasi’ happy ending. For the avid movie nerd, it might be difficult to absorb all the new revelations but then anything is possible in this movie genre of whimsical fantasy.
We’re off to see the Wizard, yet again, on the big screen.