Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie. All I knew about Wicked four hours ago was that Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowith starred in it on Broadway, and I've seen the Glee episode with the "Defying Gravity" sing-off, so I have no point of reference for this as an adaptation.
The production is amazing. It reminded me of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in the way it looks magical while also looking real. Jeff Goldblum was also giving me Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in his initial scene. Whimsical with perhaps a sinister undertone.
The cast feels like everyone is perfect for their roles, but I'm a little confused by the choice to seemingly exclusively cast actors in their thirties to play students. There is one extra in all the school scenes who has to be 40. Every now and then I'd see that 40 year old man in the background with his textbooks, and it would take me out for a moment.
Ariana is straight up channeling Kristin Chenoweth. Sometimes Kristin's voice seems to just come out of Ariana's body. Kristin is a hoot, and so is Ariana, so I loved that.
Overall Wicked was a pretty solid watch for me. I am looking forward to watching it again on disc at home with subtitles on so I can read the lyrics to the songs as they sing them. It's hard for me to process the lyrics in musicals without subtitles so sometimes I lose some of the plot there.
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