If fans enjoyed Wicked, no matter what this or any reviewer writes and expresses, they’ll flock to the second part of the story.
Even if people saw and appreciated the stage production and know how it all ends, the film version will draw its fans like iron filings to a magnet. It’s critic proof.
Why is Wicked 2 called For Good?
The subtitle shares its name of the musical’s penultimate song. Director Chu insisted it was the better choice over the working title of simply calling it Wicked Part 2.
Set in the wonderful Land of Oz before and during the events of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the lengthy two part film explores the relationship between Elphaba (Cynthia Ervivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) as they embrace their new identities.
Jeff Goldblum returns for the second part of the film as the shonky Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Munchkins are full-grown characters and the flying monkeys are as scary as ever.
It is illuminating to recap that the Wicked Witch in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz died, crushed under a building.
Munchkins sang and danced in celebration. Still, Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, has been allowed back to life for Wicked.
That’s Broadway! That’s Hollywood chasing a dollar! Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, goes from Elphaba’s enemy to her very best friend.
Cynthia Ervivo is the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West.
She was Oscar nominated in 2025 for Wicked, Actress in a Leading Role.
Ariana Grande, the Good Witch of the North, was Oscar nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role.
Wicked was further Oscar nominated for Editing, Make-Up and Hairstyling, Costume Design, Music (Original Score), Production Design, Sound, Visual Effects, and Best Picture.
It won for Costume Design and Production Design.
On a talk show I listened to Ariana Grande gush about the second part of Wicked.
One claim she made was that most stunts were executed practically, rather than rendered in CGI. My attention was drawn to the tattoos on her hands.
In the movie, Grande has skin perfect hands, but that wasn’t mentioned as an essential CGI cover-up.
Wicked: For Good when compared with Wicked lacks the pacing of the first film.
It didn’t hold attention. There was no main hit song like in Wicked. In fact, all the songs were less memorable.
Disappointing? Yes.
From what I’ve read, the second act of Wicked, the stage play, always lacked the energy and musicality of the first act.
Hollywood has always distorted factual material in its biographical and historical dramas.
Surely one writer on Wicked: For Good could have reinvented character interaction or confrontation and “bent the rules” for more dramatic intensity.
The film aimed high with its musical ambitions, but the final result was rather hollow.
It promised grandeur, but delivered mediocrity. It does have scattered moments of charm, but was too leaden with shortcomings, biggest disappointment being the music… and this is a full-blown Broadway musical brought to the screen.
Instead of leaving an impression, elevating the story, the music slowed everything down.
The script was thin and under-baked.
Emotional turns happen without proper build-up. Dialogue, in particular, lacked depth. It’s underwhelming and forgettable.
If this was constructed for children in the audience, children’s minds have been drastically underrated.
Diehard Wicked fans would give anything Wicked-related a five popcorn rating. If not a Wicked fan, this isn’t a good movie.
