By Kaitlyn Rodriguez
After a long anticipated wait, Wicked has finally been released in theaters. As most of us may know, this film has been talked about for a long time, and many have been so excited about its release. The Wicked film is a part installment based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, and it has well-known celebrities in it, including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Wicked is about Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her green skin, and her friendship with Galinda, a student with a strong desire for popularity, after previously being enemies. After an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a point where an important decision must be made as their lives begin to take different paths.
The film includes over a dozen musical numbers and many magical visual elements. It includes fast-paced camera work, flying bodies, and many flying props that make it feel like you are in a fantasy yourself.
The film starts with both characters not being a fan of each other, and throughout the film, you start to see them warming up to each other and later creating a friendship. You see how Elphaba wasn’t wicked after all, and she was just a girl who was rejected by society solely because of her green skin.
“I have been so excited for this movie to come out, especially since Ariana Grande is in it,” said Mia Shaw, a junior film and media major at The University of Tampa. “I can’t wait to watch it.”
Since Wicked is a musical, there have been mixed reviews on whether or not people will enjoy it. The majority of the film consists of the cast breaking into song, which can sometimes distract from the plot itself especially when you go from scenes being quiet down to the characters performing. It can be confusing for the audience if musicals aren’t your style.
Keep in mind that the whole film runs for 2 hours and 40 minutes, so there are times when the movie feels a bit too long. There are some points in the film that do drag, and once again, if you aren’t a fan of musicals, then watching singing and dancing for close to three hours might not be something you would want to sit through.
However, you will sit in that theater in awe at most points. The performers singing with their amazing vocals and the magical effects in the film is not something you see all the time and makes it incredibly unique. The cast is filled with amazing singers who do the best job at making these scenes come to life just with their voices.
“I’ve never been into musical movies like this, but just from the teasers it looks like it will be good, so I plan on watching it sometime next week,” said University of South Florida alumnus Nickolas Havener.
Even though this could be a fun film to watch, the meaning behind the film makes it even better. You learn that all of us are shaped by our choices, and how we are could be a reflection of how others treat us. It can also be an eye-opener to how we treat others as well, reminding us that what we say to people could potentially affect them for life.
Overall, if you are interested in watching this film, you should give it a shot. Whether you like musicals or not, this is a fun film to watch with friends or family, or if you want to leave the theater feeling like you were in a fantasy for the past three hours.