REVIEW: WICKED -FOR GOOD (MOVIE)

🎥 Wicked: For Good

🗓 Friday 21st November 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD

What a treat it is to be back in the candy-coloured, technicolour world of Oz! Jon M. Chu's conclusion to the blockbuster musical event WICKED: FOR GOOD is a dazzling affair that, while perhaps not quite as revolutionary as its predeccessor, lands its emotional punches with a truly theatrical flair. If the first film was a breathtaking "Overture" then this sequel is a beautifully realised - if sometimes a touch long-winded - "Finale".

The green-skinned Cynthia Erivo and bubble-floating Ariana Grande return in full force, and their chemistry, which was an undeniable highlight of the first outing, is given time to flourish and then painfully, yet beautifully, break.

It is in their dynamic that the true heart of this story lies, and they both give stunning, grounded performances that make us believe in their connection. Grande's journey as Glinda is particularly noteworthy here. She deftly transforms the sometimes one-note character into a woman grappling with the complexities of her choices. Her emotional vulnerability is palpable, and it's a beautiful layered performance.

But let's talk about the music. When I say that Erivo's lungs and talent are an absolute force of nature, I am not being melodramatic. Her rendition of "No Good Deed" is an all-consuming, powerhouse moment of pure unbridled fury and sorrow, and the cinematic wizardry of this scene adds a thrilling, heart-shattering scale to her defiance.

However, the real showstopper, the moment that will have you digging for the tissues and ugly crying in your sest, is the titular "For Good". The combined performance from the two absolute Queens is simply breathtaking. Their voices - one a soaring powerhouse, the other a delicate, heartbreaking instrument - weave together in a moment of pure yet devastating beauty. The live vocal recordings mean every crack, every breath, and every last tear-jerking note feels profoundly real and raw. This performance alone ensures you will leave the cinema changed, just as Elphaba and Glinda change each other.

Alongside Jonathan Bailey, Erivo creates a moment of quiet, cinematic romance. Their performance of "As Long As You're Mine" is steamy, intimate, and absolutely electric. The sheer chemistry between them could power all of Oz, and their vocal blend is so tender and full of yearning that it creates a truly unforgettable moment of stolen bliss. It's a gorgeous expansion of the stage show's staging, and Bailey proves himself a worthy and utterly charming and charismatic Fiyero.

With all the positivity in this review, you may be questioning my reasoning for the four star rating. A few of the narrative choices - such as the expansion of Dorothy's presence and some of the chaotic action sequences - can feel a little bit like the film is trying too hard. It sometimes loses the intimate, political nuance that makes the stage show so enduring. The visual spectacle, whilst undeniably stunning, can be so overwhelming that the quieter moments of character are in danger of getting lost in the razzle-dazzle.

I also thought that perhaps there was an overuse of reprises, and the movie was too long. I thought the first part of the film could have been easily edited down to stop it feeling a little long-winded.

But these are undeniably minor quibbles in a film that is, at its heart, a stunning celebration of friendship, fate, and finsing your own yellow brick road. It's a beautiful, bittersweet goodbye to these iconic characters, and an absolute triumph for this star-studded cast.

Go see it, and bring a whole box of tissues. You'll definitely need them! It's safe to say that I'll be watching again very soon

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

MAIN CAST:

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba; Ariana Grande as Glinda; Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero; Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard; Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible; Marissa Bode as Nessarose; Ethan Slater as Boq / The Tin Man; Coleman Domingo as The Cowardly Lion (Voice)

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours 17 minutes

To keep up to date with all the latest theatre news and more, follow Pink Prince Theatre on social media.

Find us on Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky and TikTok.