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While we may have learned as children that there is “no place like home” it is easy to argue that returning to the wonderful land of Oz is just as desired. 1939 Gave us the classic “Wizard of Oz,” a film so beloved that it is as much of a landmark in history as it is pivotal to our growing up. Children ho grew up on the masterpiece grew up to be inspired by the characters, songs and movie magic allowing them to create their own stories with some becoming published works as well as future installment films. There’s 1978’s “The Wiz” a modern retelling through the eyes of the African American experience, the 1985 “The Return to Oz” a children’s movie much more appropriately labeled a horror film, and so much more from retellings to re-writing the story from a new perspective all together. It can probably be said that since 1939 the most well known re-telling is Stephen Schwartz’s “Wicked” a Broadway musical adapted from the Gregory Macguire novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” When “Wicked” entered the Broadway world it changed the scene forever becoming a critical and fan favorite best known for its levitating music performed by the great Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, but even more so allowed several decades of fan fiction writers to feel connected to a story that often wanted to know more about. The musical if you do not know tells the story of the once friendship between witches Glinda and Elphaba as they learn there is a darker side to Oz than they could have imagined. It’s a prequel that gave blessings to thousands of fan fiction, Tumblr threads, and all around theater kid obsession as it took one of the most theatrical stories ever and made it well even more extravagant. But over twenty years since the show first premiered a movie version WICKED: PART ONE has finally flown into theaters. A film so saddled with delays that it seemed a mere dream at times. Directed by Jon M. Chu (In the Heights, Crazy Rich Asians) the film stars Cynthia Erivo taking on the difficult role of Elphaba and what seems like a fan casters wish come true pop star sensation Ariana Grande as the bubbly Glinda the Good. Over the months (or even years) leading up to WICKED it has been impossible to avoid trailers, commercials and a press tour that is bonded in sisterhood. However WICKED: PART ONE really does find itself in the same troubles that has made the Broadway show enjoyable but greatly flawed throughout. It’s a film that wears its “Part One” heavily on its sleeve and relies too greatly on the talents of its extraordinary leads. WICKED: PART ONE does find ways to well defy gravity but all too often does it struggle to ever take off. For a film that has plenty of courage, heart and brains it still feels lost in the land of Oz and so desperately needs a pair of ruby slippers to guide it along the way.

The Wicked Witch is dead! As most prequel films do WICKED starts at the end, but a promise from Glinda (Grande) tells us that she will give us the whole story (well in two parts). You see as the Munchkins of Munchkin land are celebrating the Wicked Witch’s (Erivo) death some of the Munchkins call out Glinda for hearing a rumor of how they were once friends. Thus begins the full story of WICKED…in two parts. Glinda a spoiled child of upper upper elite class has arrived at Shiz University to become a great and powerful Witch under the tutelage of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). But trouble arises for Glinda when the curious and very green Elphaba is accepted into the school after displaying some mysterious magical powers. From there WICKED: PART ONE is the humorous and delightful college like fun that has made “Wicked” so exciting all these years. Erivo shows off those amazing vocal skills early on with “The Wizard and I,” one of the few musical numbers that actually uses the new medium offered to the filmmakers. As Elphaba runs throughout the school discussing her excitement to meet the wizard and change the world gives Erivo such a moment of excitement to show the talents of this incredible all around performer. Chu’s directing while against some miserable green screen still rises above by showing us that we may finally get a movie musical that enjoys using its surroundings. And then it sort of just stops. The film faithful to the show delivers all the hits “What is This Feeling,” “Popular,” and “Dancing Through Life,” but for those first two (especially Popular) it limits itself to the same limitations that the stage had. The film cuts so quickly from frame to frame instead of following along that you almost long for a small stage to at least see the characters move about. Thankfully when the film starts to bog down Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, a cocky playboy Prince, rejuvenates the film with “Dancing Through Life” but even then the over exposed backlight hides half of the images on screen. In a time where movies deserve to be brighter in visuals, Chu takes this to an annoying level and forgets that color can come from the costumes, set designs and more and not just your CGI (which does the film no favors).

But it would be impossible to say WICKED: PART ONE can’t rise above these criticisms. Because after all this is a tale of two friends, two best friends who become sisters for life and the bond they share is never more evident than in Erivo and Grande’s performances. Grande with her high spirited and even higher vocals is a perfect Glinda and when you hear that she gives one of the year’s best performances believe the hype. It’s a flashier role and Grande can often seem more at ease with the comedy aspects but as c child actor Grande appears to have remembered her ability to deliver those unspoken looks of longing and pain. For all of Glinda’s laughs and bitchy mean girls comments there is that brokenness of knowing why she may grow to love her new roommate there is a constant jealousy. Erivo on the other hand brings an authenticity to Elphaba that has been missing in the role. It is fair to say that the rejection Elphaba faces due to her skin color is something Erivo as Black woman and a performer delves into with nearly every glance she throws back at her bigoted classmates. But it is the moments where the film keeps Elphaba and Glinda together that it rises above (or as Glinda would say RIIIIISSSEEE ABOVE IT!!!). Two theater trained performers their bond feels unbreakable. For anyone who has performed on stage you know the family that is created during each show (as fabricated as it may be) but seeing this carried onto screen fills your heart with such love as it is their love that does define every aspect of this story.

But even with all the sisterhood very little can elevate the unnecessary split of these two films. Yes the Broadway show has an intermission, but you know with intermissions you get to finish the story fifteen minutes later. WICKED: PART ONE doesn’t end on a cliffhanger but instead an unfinished sentence. Thanks to its prequel qualities the filmmakers feel obligated to shoehorn in every fan reference they can fit from hints at Fiyero’s eventual future, to that pigtailed farm girl who will become Elphaba’s demise. The film brings up relevant themes of false leaders and living under a tyranny regime and yet its all so half baked that you find yourself just waiting to get to the big intermission led final number. Its subplot of animal cruelty feels more manipulate than anything of value when the outcome won’t play out for another two years (or maybe more). So instead you are left with a mesmerizing finale in performance but one that does not fully feel earned. “Defying Gravity” is the crown jewel of Wicked, it’s the song that will make the show and film timeless and has allowed readers everywhere to ignore a terrible book that is its source material. But this is THE MOMENT and while Erivo’s vocals are more than exceptional and Grande’s emotions carry the levity of the scene, the filmmaking feels weightless. You want to feel the pain between these two sisters torn apart but instead the only feeling of loss comes from the fact that we are forced to wait. You’ll be screaming “bring on part two” when you leave the theater but in this case its less from excitement and more from frustration. So if WICKED: PART ONE defies gravity and wants to do it again it needs to take that magic created by its leads and spread it throughout all of Oz otherwise we’ll all be like Dorothy begging to go home.

C

WICKED: PART ONE IS IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE