🎥 Every day more wicked. Starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as G(a)linda, American director Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good has finally hit the big screen in theatres all over Egypt and the world. The highly-anticipated sequel to the 2024 USD 759 mn blockbuster saw us running to the nearest IMAX hall clad in our finest green (or pink) garb, and two-and-a-half hours later, we were changed — who could say if for the better, but certainly for good.

We’re back in Oz, 12 turns of the tide following the events of Wicked. A year after Elphaba and Glinda belted out Defying Gravity in the skies of Emerald City, audiences watch as Oz falls into disarray; propaganda in full force, animals enslaved. The Wizard’s (Jeff Goldblum) ambitious yellow brick road project is in the works, forcibly executed by scores of Ozian animals who have now lost their ability to speak. Elphaba — now hailed the Wicked Witch of the West — swoops in to their rescue, setting the animals free and once more eluding Ozians on their witchhunt.

Others are good but she’s the good…liest? A lot can change in a year, and certainly has. Glinda has become the city’s poster child for all things good — Elphaba’s antithesis — Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) is now the captain of a special force tasked with capturing the witch, and Nessarose (Marissa Bode), Elphaba’s sister, has become the governor after her father’s death and her sister’s disappearance. Yet, not all is as it seems. Deep down, our cast of characters know the truth about what happened with the Wizard, yet everyone has a part to dutifully play. As Elphaba’s attempts to restore justice fail, she comes to the realization that indeed no good deed goes unpunished.

The film hit the ground running, having already established all backstories, plots, and characters. Elphaba is set on her mission to expose the Wizard and save Oz, faced with the lies of both the Wizard and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). The sequel shows how truth can be twisted, how an entire people could be deceived, and what it means to sit idle as injustice takes root.

Dorothy enters stage right. The second act sees the iconic Wizard of Oz protagonist finally make an appearance. The question of who was to play her — stepping in Judy Garland’s metaphorical ruby red slippers — was one on everyone’s lips. The answer left audiences speechless, but not for the reasons you’d expect.

For Good doubles down on everything that made Wicked wickedly good. The cinematography and visual effects initially retain the hallmark color palette of the first film, yet soon things takes a dark turn — both literally and figuratively. As the movie progresses, colors begin to fade, and darkness takes hold. This transition, complemented by the darkness in the second act soundtrack’s lyrics, adds depth to the sequel. Certain scenes, too, unfold in a way reminiscent of body-horror thrillers — but that’s all we’ll divulge for now.

Let’s talk music: The original Wicked soundtrack undeniably reigns supreme, yet For Good’s sonic undertakings definitely put up a fight. The second act featured all the iconic songs from the original Broadway production. Cynthia Erivo’s rendition of No Good Deed was the uncontested highlight of the musical, more so than the popular finale song, For Good, and we’d argue stands on the same pedestal as Defying Gravity.

Our only qualm with the sequel: Despite running for a little under two-and-a-half-hours, Wicked: For Good felt somewhat rushed. While we understand the creative choice to focus efforts and attention on Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship, we would have appreciated more time dedicated to the journey of the Kansas-hailing 12-year-old. This might be an unpopular opinion, but Wicked could have benefited from being a trilogy.

That said, Wicked: For Good was a wonderful success. It’s often noted that the second act of the original Broadway production doesn’t quite match the momentum of the first, but Wicked: For Good deftly navigates this challenge to deliver a finale that feels just as propulsive as its predecessor. The ending was more than satisfactory, with everyone getting just what they deserve — the good and the bad.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- You can catch Wicked: For Good at Vox Cinemas at Mall of Egypt, Alexandria, and City Center Almaza. The film is also screening at CFCM and D5’s Scene Cinemas, City Stars Cinema, P90 Cinema, and Cima Arkan. Watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:46).

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