I’ve watched a traveling stage production of the musical Wicked, so I already knew how the movie Wicked: For Good was going to end. However, I wasn’t fully prepared for how this movie wrecked me emotionally. Be prepared to grab your Kleenex, folks!
I fell in love with the first Wicked movie last year, watching it multiple times in theaters. And while I was initially a little skeptical about the studio splitting the film into two parts (a Hollywood move that always feels like a cynical cash grab), in this case I think the split was warranted.
Jon M. Chu’s Wicked movies are very different tonally, but still work together as a whole. The first part is a fun, exuberant movie packed with catchy songs: “Popular,” “Dancing through Life,” and, of course, “Defying Gravity.” Part 2 is darker and more serious, and forces best friends Elphaba and Glinda to spend more time apart than together.
While there aren’t as many feel good bops in part 2, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo once again bring their A games, their acting chops and powerhouse vocals on full display. The costumes are just incredible; I don’t have the time or budget to make a Glinda or Elphaba cosplay, but I can dream, right?
I was a little surprised to see a more mixed response from critics about this film, because as a fan I thought it was a great follow-up to part 1. The performances are strong, and it even improves on the stage musical’s second act, I think, by adding more depth.
My only real quibbles are, I feel like Michelle Yeoh wasn’t given enough to work with as Madame Morrible, and at times the conclusion feels a little rushed.
If Wicked: Part 1 did not win you over, For Good is probably not going to make a fan out of you, either. However if you loved the musical and the first film, and all its characters, I think you’ll find this a satisfying ending. It’s a bittersweet but ultimately uplifting story about two unlikely friends and how their relationship changes them both for the better.
Eternity
A tender, emotional journey through love, the afterlife, and impossible choices
Following the theme of not being prepared to be emotionally wrecked in a movie theater, I went with a friend to see the new A24 film Eternity. If watching Wicked: For Good was like getting hit by an emotional truck, Eternity was a freight train.
The basic premise: Larry (Miles Teller) wakes up in the afterlife and is tasked with choosing what eternity he wants to spend forever in (there are many worlds to choose from, including an eternal beach, picturesque mountains, and pretty much anything else one could imagine). He waits for his wife, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), to join him so they can choose an eternity together.
However, there’s a catch – Joan’s first husband, Callum Turner, is a soldier who died during the Korean War, and he also has been waiting for Joan and wants to spend eternity with her. Joan now faces the difficult decision of what eternity to select – and whether she wants to share that time with Larry or Luke.
Eternity is exactly the sort of movie I’ve been desperate to see more of in Hollywood. It’s not a rehash or remake, and it blends elements of fantasy, romance, and drama to tell a beautiful story. It has some funny moments, and also some deeply thoughtful and emotional reflections on love and life. The characters each have flaws, but there are no villains here, which makes Joan’s choice of who to spend eternity with so hard.
Eternity is both well acted and a story well told, and it’s one of my favorites of the year.
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