Wicked For Good Review: Act 2 Takes A Dark Turn That Will Thrillify Audiences (But As An Act 1 Person, I Have Complex Feelings)

Wicked: For Good had a tough act to follow, as it comes on the heels of the widely well-received Wicked. The bar is high, and the stakes are set for the epic conclusion of the Broadway musical adaptation, and in a lot of ways, it meets them. However, since I have always been a bigger fan of Act 1 than Act 2, I was left with complex feelings about the highly anticipated sequel.

In Wicked: For Good, quite a bit of time has passed since the events of Wicked. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is widely seen as a true wicked witch, Glinda (Ariana Grande) works with Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) now, and the political climate in Oz has gotten scary, as laws against animals have been put in place.

Erivo’s witch is determined to save her home from this terrible mess, though things get complicated when it comes to her friendship with Glinda. From there, For Good asks audiences to ride with these women as they come to terms with what they want their world to look like and what they can do to save it.

Overall, much like Wicked, this film directed by Jon M. Chu feels like a technical masterclass that is full of stunning visuals, remarkable performances and beautiful music. For me personally, however, it didn’t change me for good like the first part did.

Ariana Grande absolutely steals the show with her nuanced portrayal of Glinda.

Ariana Grande has a tight rope to walk in Wicked: For Good. As we see during the final moments of the first movie, Glinda is torn between her best friend and a world she’s always dreamed of – where she is the beloved witch. That struggle continues in the sequel, and the actress playing the “good” character portrays it beautifully.

When she sings “Thank Goodness,” her vocals are not just gorgeous, they’re also layered as Glinda tries to put on a mask for Oz that makes it seem like she believes something she’s not 100% sure about. And that mask proves to be a vital part of her arc.

Meanwhile, she is also the source of some of the movie's biggest laughs. There’s a fight between Glinda and Elphaba that, while serious, is very funny because of physical comedy chops demonstrated by the actress.

While Elphaba’s motivations are pure and clear, Glinda’s journey is grey (despite all the pink). Grande plays it with an impressive amount of nuance that makes it so her character is never really a villain; she’s simply struggling to understand her place in this situation and is trying to figure out the right thing to do.

The cast brings depth and darkness to this story in a way that helps distinguish it from Part 1.

Wicked: For Good takes a notably dark turn, and the cast brings their A-game when it comes to the drama.

Cynthia Erivo is particularly impressive in this capacity, as she plays out Elphaba’s struggle to save Oz in a powerful and angry way that also features a light and hope that is admirable. Her commanding performance of “No Good Deed” comes to mind here. The witch’s breaking point blew me away, as it emotionally communicates her struggle to do the right thing while the whole world thinks she’s trying to destroy it.

Meanwhile, Marissa Bode, Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater all bring darker sides to Nessarose, Fiyero and Boq, respectively, that shine a bright light on how their characters are impacted by the events of the first film.

With Bailey's return as Fiyero specifically, there’s an angst that is reminiscent of his work as Anthony Bridgerton on Bridgerton – which I love. In For Good, the happy-go-lucky prince gets angry, comes to terms with the darkness around him, and works hard to set things right. It’s a beautiful and revealing journey, and it helps Fiyero grow as a character exponentially.

Bode and Slater's performances also come with surprising anger that flooded me. Both Nessa and Boq have their own reasons for being filled with fury, and the actors bring that to life in a visceral way, which, in turn, helps viewers understand just how far things have fallen in Oz.

Paul Tazewell’s costumes shine brightly in this dark tale.

When the credits rolled at my screening, and costume designer Paul Tazewell’s name appeared, the woman in front of me applauded, and that was the correct reaction.

He designed the costumes for both movies by Jon M. Chu, and somehow, I think Tazewell tops himself with For Good. That’s saying a lot, too, because he rightfully won an Oscar for his work on Wicked, and I feel like it could easily happen again here.

When Glinda appears on screen in her blue and pink dress, my jaw dropped. The way it sparkles in the darkness of this film is magnificent, and it helps highlight Grande’s beautiful performance.

Likewise, the texture on Elphaba’s dresses is also beyond impressive. The layers and patterns Tazewell uses on her looks help them be so much more than just your typical black witch’s costume. Therefore, her clothes help highlight and emphasize the complex story of the Wicked Witch of the West.

The costume designer's work in general also helps immerse us in Oz. From the Munchkins' outfits to the gem tones of the Emerald City, these costumes bring distinct life and bright color to this world, and it makes the movie all the more immersive. It also helps signify how the characters have changed from the first story to the second, and I simply couldn’t be happier about it.

I have always preferred Act 1 to Act 2 of this musical, and that did impact my enjoyment of Wicked: For Good.

Here's the deal: I’m not a big ballad person, I love a big splashy dance number, and the songs from Act 1 – like “Popular,” “Dancing Through Life” and “Defying Gravity” – have been my favorites from Wicked for decades. So, I knew I probably wouldn’t like For Good as much as I liked Wicked – and I was right.

I remember watching the first of Jon M. Chu’s films and being moved to tears numerous times, and that just didn’t happen during For Good. It’s hard to explain why that’s the case; however, I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I’ve always been more emotionally invested in and attached to Act 1. For Good isn't the spectacle Wicked is, which I believe is intentional due to its darker story. But I didn't love that that was the case. I also think “Defying Gravity” is one of the most moving and profound endings I’ve seen, and while I appreciate the end of this second act, it doesn't sucker punch me in the heart like the first movie did.

I find this story about Elphaba and her battle with the Wizard a tad hit-or-miss, with some subplots and characters left underdeveloped and me less invested in the narrative. Combine that with my already big feelings about Act 1, and you get a recipe for mixed emotions. That being said, Wicked: For Good is still absolutely wonderful. The story is touching, it’s beautifully made, and it provides a fulfilling conclusion to this Ozian epic.