Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked: For Good [Universal Pictures]

WICKED: FOR GOOD
Directed by Jon M Chu
Certificate: PG
☆☆☆☆

OFF back down the yellow brick road we go in this sequel to the smash-hit Wicked from 2024, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the besties with very different paths to follow.

We join them as they manoeuvre through issues of love and war, friendship and loyalty, and a big dollop of Oz-land politics in their pre-determined roles of “good” witch and “bad” witch.

Glinda the Good (Grande), Elphaba the Wicked (Erivo) are trying to figure out what’s best for Oz – is it the Wizard’s charlatan rule, with Glinda a figurehead, or the real magic of Elphaba?

Then throw in a romantic conflict over the affections of a dashing Prince (Jonathan Bailey) and plenty of explaining as to how this all fits in with the original story, all set against Oz’s hallucinogenic landscape.

It’s a blast, though sadly the music doesn’t stand up much.

When Judy Garland went over the Rainbow in 1939 the songs gave our cultural landscape new landmarks – Over the Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road, Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead, We’re Off To See The Wizard… all have become part of our common musical language. A curmudgeon might say the period the original film was made benefited from an amazing set of Hollywood composers and musical directors, inspired by the glorious jazz era. No wonder W:FG’s songs simply aren’t a patch on those stone-cold belters of yesteryear – compare Ariana’s saccharine pop and surely there is only one winner.

It may be the songs grow on you if you hear them again, but for such an enjoyable film experience, you would be hard pushed as you exit to remember one lyric or harmony.

It is hard not to look at the parable aspect of the politics of Oz, which dangles above the pink-puffery to give the adults in the stalls some food for thought.

The Wizard’s press secretary Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) is suspiciously like one of Trump’s White House media gatekeepers. Oz, played by Jeff Goldblum as a carnival shyster, peddles lies and divisive policies which sees the animals of Oz banished and the nation’s borders closed. It is an obvious message.

Possibly the best thing about this rather lovely film occurs at the end – the elongated plot re-writes Dorothy’s experience in Oz in a way that ties things all together nicely. Overall, a ball.