The theatrical and magical land of Oz cast a spell upon us this holiday season. Of course, we’re referring to the movie adaptation of “Wicked”. 

Enchanting the audience with its captivating harmonies, fantastic wardrobe and vivid visuals, “Wicked” was most certainly worth the wait. The movie includes a star studded cast with Ariana Grande, Cynthia Ervio, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and many more. 

This highly anticipated film, directed by Jon M. Chu, is a prequel of the movie “The Wizard of Oz” and is based on the musical written by Winnie Holzman and book written by Gregory Maguire. The story gives us a backstory on the famous villain “The Wicked Witch of the West” and her not-so villainous past. Many of us grew up watching “The Wizard of Oz” and this movie did not fall short on providing viewers with that nostalgic feeling. With little Easter eggs hidden all over the movie, the audience even felt engrossed in the film.

The movie presents some of the most admirable songs from the classic musical, such as the iconic songs, “Popular,” “The Wizard and I,”  and “What Is This Feeling?” with other countless, breath-taking hits. The soundtracks can take you through a rollercoaster of emotions like the feeling of excitement or the feeling of low spirits. But chills will always accompany you when songs like “Defying Gravity” soar onto the screen. 

These songs are more than just for listening; they tell a story showcasing the thoughts, dreams and struggles that the characters faced. They made the audience feel the weight of the character’s emotions and the relationship so much better. It’s through these songs that “Wicked” truly defied gravity, deepening the story and making a memorable impression that lingers long after the credits roll. 

The casting of the characters was as brilliant as the movie itself. Grande, who played Galinda or Glinda brought lots of attention towards “Wicked” as she got her fanbase excited and wanting to run to the theaters to watch. The chemistry between the cast specifically between Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo is nothing short of magical. Their performances as the two main characters, Glinda and Elphaba captured the tensions and bonds of their friendship beautifully. 

During the film’s press tour, the duo shared many emotional moments in describing the bond that they’ve created in the process of making the heartfelt film. Grande and Erivo frequently touched on their appreciation for each other’s dedication,vocals and time. The two are often seen sharing sentimental moments in interviews and expressing their relationship being similar to sisters, due to the often time spent together and the emotional ties to their roles. 

The movie brought an exciting sensation towards the fanbase. Many fans were thrilled to see the unique twist of the characters brought from the actors, while keeping the same remarkable originality and gift from the original performance. The cast bringing their own fashionable style to the characters made the movie more energetic and vibrant.