The movie “Wicked” is one of the biggest movies of the year, currently grossing $358 million and climbing. In less than 20 days, the movie has become the fourth highest grossing Broadway musical-movie adaptation after Mamma Mia which came out in 2008($611.2 million), Les Miserables ($422.7 million) which was released in 2012, and Grease which came to theaters in 1978 ($396.2 million). However, is this movie made only for Broadway fans, or is it made for everyone to enjoy?
There were some people unfamiliar with the Broadway show who weren’t particularly enthralled by the movie adaptation. A junior, Emily Mcncikouls, who hasn’t seen the “Wizard of Oz” or “Wicked”, is “absolutely not a theater kid.” Mcnickouls thought the movie was “bad” and didn’t like that “goats teach and monkeys having wings” because it just wasn’t very realistic. Her favorite part was leaving the theater at the end of the movie. However, she did like the musical element to it, and was “impressed that they all sang live.” On the other hand, while they might not be classified as ‘theater kids,’ there are some who have loved the
play since childhood. A senior, Ally Ossipo is a classic “Wicked” fan – she saw the play when she was young, and has loved the soundtrack ever since. Ossipo thought that Ariana Grande in particular did a fantastic job in the movie, saying “[Grande] grew
up watching the original Broadway show, so she really knew how to embody the character.” Furthermore, a junior, Madeyln Powell, who loves musicals, and has seen “Wicked” on Broadway before and loved the movie. When asked about her own thoughts on the movie, she responded, “[I] loved it, except for the ending, which was a cliffhanger.” Overall, Powell thought it was a good movie musical and wants to see it again.
On the other hand, there are theater and musical enthusiasts who saw the movie. A sophomore, Jack Farmer, who is a theater kid and “also does [chorus]” stated, “I really liked [“Wicked”]… Ariana put on an unexpectedly good vocal performance. She tends to be more pop and R&B, but she put on a Broadway level performance as Galinda.” Mrs. Patrick, who also wanted to do theater in high school and loves watching Broadway shows, saw the movie as well. Mrs. Patrick has seen the Wizard of Oz, and grew up with the movie as her twin brother “requested to watch it every single day.” Mrs. Patrick thought the movie musical was “funny and moving” and the silent dance scene “brought tears to her eyes.” A junior, Raquel Lagos, who loves musicals, said “absolutely loved it,” and her mother was a singer so it hit a place in her family’s heart. Her favorite moment was when Ariana was singing, Lagos’s favorite song was “What is this Feeling.” In short Lagos loved the movie and wants to see it again soon!
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Overall, it didn’t matter who was a theater kid and who wasn’t. The movie musical was a great hit for all audiences. Some had connections to the musical and Wizard of Oz beforehand, which enhanced their movie watching experience. However, there were some people who weren’t the biggest fan, and the movie didn’t speak to them in the way that others thought it did. It really just depended on each person and what they felt about the movie musical. In general, the movie musical was magical and show stopping for the audience.
What were your thoughts on the movie? If you haven’t seen it, do you still want to?
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