Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Wicked review addresses the question of whether or not the film lives up to the insane hype.

Wicked could well be the most heavily promoted and anticipated film of 2024. Who doesn’t know that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo play Glinda and Elphaba, that Jeff Goldbloom is the Wizard, and that Jonathan Bailey (that hunk from Bridgerton) plays the hot Prince Fiyero?

Okay, I had no idea who the latter was, but was quickly schooled by fans. More on him later.

I have to admit that yes,Wicked does live up to the phenomenal hype in that it’s a glorious sight to behold.

It’s a giant glitter bomb of a film in which every square inch of every frame is filled with flowers, frippery and flourishes, making it a dizzying kaleidoscope of fabulous excess. Were you expecting anything less?

Every scene is choreographed, costumed and performed to perfection. Yes, Erivo and Grande bring it, adding their own unique touches that have the media quivering with anticipation of awards attention.

Wicked review — not quite perfect

And yet…

It’s a lot. At times, too much. Almost like an overstuffed piñata that incessantly rains down streams of splendiferous Sugarfina sweets. After awhile, you’ve had your fill, vision starts glazing over, and a vaguely uncomfortable feeling of bloat begins to creep in.

That could also have something to do with the elongated run time. I join all the critics who point out that the film is just too darn long. No filmmaker, not even the game Jon M. Chu, can sustain that kind of energy and opulence for two hours and 40 minutes.

And this is but the first half of the story that the Broadway play tells in two hours and 45 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission. In case you haven’t heard, what you’ll see in theaters is only the first half of the Wicked story. Of course a money maker like this will have a sequel.

As a brief aside, I can’t help but wonder what they’ll do in the future about the startlingly visible age difference between Jonathan Bailey’s Prince Fiyero and the innocent, young, first-year college students he, uh, enchants? Bailey is 36 and it shows.

Why didn’t the makeup department work the same magic on him that they did on 37-year-old Erivo, who plays a convincing 18 (ish) girl, and 31-year-old Grande, who flawlessly plays an ingenue about the same age?

Many of those who have a hand in raising teenage girls are finding that glaring age difference to be a bit disconcerting.

Despite these minor flaws, Wicked will manage to impress a huge, 2024 box office boosting number of fans, and rack up awards nominations galore. Who couldn’t use a big, beautiful fantasy right now? Wicked meets, and in some cases exceeds, expectations.

Rated PG

2 hours 40 minutes

If this Wicked review encourages you to grab a broom and fly on over to your local cineplex, get times and tickets first at Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Wicked review addresses the question of whether or not the film lives up to the insane hype.