One of the most highly-anticipated movies of the year, “Wicked,” has finally been released, and I, for one, could not bear to wait any longer than I already have. With Ariana Grande’s disappearance from social media and the nostalgic reminders of a familiar witch, many fans from every background have been itching to see the film. A vibrant rendition of the familiar musical, “Wicked,” has successfully created a heartfelt film with a near-perfect balance between comedy and crying. For one, Cynthia Erivo’s voice has enchanted me and the rest of the audience. Her talent in her performance as Elphaba and lyrical performances made me feel like I was defying gravity. And, of course, who could not forget Ariana Grande’s performance as Glinda, the Good Witch? Her inspiration from Kristen Chenoweth’s original performance in Wicked created a unique display of emotions and made her rendition of Glinda extremely appealing. 

Of course, no one can question a movie’s version of a musical without considering the music first. The talent of the two actresses and every supporting character shows nothing but skill in their singing abilities. It’s refreshing to see thoughtful casting of people who can perform, compared to movies in the past. The production of the songs, while obviously having to differ from the original soundtrack, puts a more modern spin on it and continues to be fantastic on the ears. The ensemble cast and supporting roles are also vital to the music and give an extra kick, and it certainly wouldn’t be the same without them. The ability of these two to put so much of their personalities and emotions into music tugs on the heartstrings and makes them loveable to the audience. There has to be credit given to an artist having a lead role in the movie, and Ariana Grande’s ability to act and perform as an exaggerated musical character is so wonderful. Her voice makes it a pleasure to listen to, but her acting ability sells this movie and why she is so well-known. Although Cynthia Erivo is also an artist and actor, her appearances have been more recent, and she’s been known to impress with every production.
Usually, I have a focus on aesthetics and how a movie looks. Although it is full of eye candy for every minute of those two hours and forty minutes, I couldn’t take my eyes off the main characters and their interactions. Every single action and progression of their characters was subtle but significant and kept me eager for the next moment. Despite staying true to her bubbly self, Glinda’s growth was portrayed beautifully by Grande’s unique mannerisms, especially her choice to change her tone of voice for the movie. Erivo’s form of acting Elphaba hit me just as hard, creating her actual emergence as an actor. This far into the year, I have to say this could be one of the best movies, if not the movie of the year. Every aspect of the film, from how it looked to how it sounded and felt, was perfect. No movie has ever been so worth the watch, especially not a musical. It left me speechless and unable to leave my seat because I was so deeply invested in the story, the music, and the most loveable duo, Glinda and Elphaba.