I was never a big fan of the musical, but this film made me appreciate it more. If you don’t know, it’s basically the origin story of The Wicked Witch (Cynthia Erivo) and her early friendship with Good Witch Glinda (Ariana Grande). There are shades of Mean Girls, since the green student doesn’t fit it. Several things elevate this film:
The moving dramatic power of Erivo’s voice and performance.
The sassy, sometimes funny character created by Grande.
Jonathan Bailey’s amusingly charming prince.
The overall art direction featuring lovely costumes and fantastic sets.
Director John M . Chu’s often clever staging and continual harkening to the emotional relationship. Surprisingly, at 2:41 the film never drags, but manages to be continually appealing, sometimes dazzling and a tender message of freedom, acceptance and defiance. I defy you to get “Defying Gravity” out of your head after that flashy finale. NOTE: Look for composer Stephen Schwartz as the mustachioed guard who says “The Wizard will see you now.” 
(4 / 5)
