Wicked: For Good Review

Emma Londoner ‘26 | Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Wicked: For Good is the long-awaited end to the historic Broadway show’s two-part film adaptation, but despite the excitement, it doesn’t quite live up to expectations. There are some good moments and a few standout scenes, but overall, the movie feels too long and uneven. Instead of building on its predecessor’s emotional momentum, this finale stretches the story with extra scenes, causing its impact to fade. 

When the signature song “For Good” finally arrives, the film already feels like it’s gone on too long, turning what should be a powerful goodbye into a moment when you’re ready for it to end.

The cinematography is a clear step up from 2024’s Wicked (sometimes referred to as Wicked: Part One). The visuals look more natural and less oversaturated, making the city of Oz feel like a real place rather than a shiny fantasy, and the soft, rich, beautiful colors fit the story and seem more realistic. Even the quieter scenes between Elphaba and Glinda have more depth; director Jon M. Chu has found the right visual style, and it’s one of the movie’s few steady strengths throughout.

The cast also continues to deliver strong performances. Cynthia Erivo brings genuine emotion to Elphaba, and even when scenes run long, she keeps viewers engaged. Ariana Grande seems more at ease this time, especially as Glinda becomes more complex. Their chemistry feels real and is certainly a key part of the film’s emotions. Jonathan Bailey brings warmth and determination to Fiyero, and Michelle Yeoh, even in her few scenes, adds authority and pure evil to the story. 

The actors fully encompass their characters, but the slow pacing makes it harder for them to shine. While Part One sometimes moved too quickly, scenes in For Good continue after making their point: story moments repeat, and some emotional scenes lose impact because there is too much extra material.

For instance, while the music has its high points, the new songs penned by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz lack the edge of the others and add to the film’s length. “The Girl in the Bubble,” sung by Glinda, feels out of place and stops the film’s momentum dead in its tracks. 

Still, the movie gets some things right. Viewers learn about the origins of characters in The Wizard of Oz, such as the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow, and how their stories connect to Elphaba, which makes the story more engaging. These moments don’t feel forced or cheesy; they feel like natural parts of the story and help link the two worlds. These small connections make the universe feel larger and more connected, and it’s one of the few ways the film adds something that works.

Another standout is the final, profound moment between Elphaba and Glinda, which is beautiful. We see that Elphaba, presumed dead, has run away with Fiyero and sent a bright signal to Glinda to show that she is still alive. It brings everything together, from the dramatic visuals to the over-the-top emotion, all without being too sentimental. If the whole movie had matched these final moments, it could have been a genuinely moving ending.

Yet the film ends up caught between sticking to the original Broadway musical and trying to add more. It tries to be bigger, not better, which makes it feel bloated and unnecessary at times. It also feels like the filmmakers were hesitant to take risks with such a well-loved story, yet still felt they had to add new elements.

In trying to please everyone, the film ends up feeling uncertain. The cast, visuals, and a few musical highlights help keep it going, but the film never fully reaches the potential we expected. It’s not bad, but it’s not great either. Oz may look better than ever, and the characters might still be important, but getting there is tough because of the slow pacing, extra material, and songs that don’t quite work.

For a story about “Defying Gravity,” this ending spends too much time stuck on the ground.