I got misty-eyed during “Dear Old Shiz,” so yeah. By the end of “Dancing Through Life,” I had sobbed off all of my waterproof mascara. The musical adaptation of “Wicked” has always had a handprint on my heart. It has been one of the most influential pieces of media in my life, and I have been waiting for this film with rapt anticipation, terror and excitement for the last three years.

When I say that it exceeded my expectations, I mean that as the highest compliment I can give.

Cynthia Erivo is the clear standout—it’s primarily Elphaba’s story, despite Glinda’s near-constant presence (especially in Act I). There’s a reason that Idina Menzel won the Tony in 2003. While I never doubted her, Erivo’s sheer star power is blinding. She effortlessly captures every moment of Elphaba’s complexity, from her childlike joy to her vulnerability and deep internal conflict. Her vocal presence is astounding, and while “Defying Gravity” is the moment that I’m sure everyone will remember, her rendition of “The Wizard And I” is truly astounding.

My next standout is Jonathan Bailey, and it isn’t even by a close margin. “Wicked” is a masterclass in deeply layered, complex characters, and I love how Bailey portrayed the emotional and moral shifts that Firefox has to contend with. “Dancing Through Life is one of the best numbers in the film (as it is in the stage show), and having Bailey as the centerpiece brought the already gorgeous choreography, costumes and camerawork to a whole new level.

One thing I loved about Ariana Grande-Butera’s performance was how well she portrayed Galinda/Glinda’s gradual transformation. She captured the essence of the character and brought both a naïveté and a determination that is essential for the role. I appreciate the intense vocal work she did to step more into the musical theater realm of singing, and I feel like it paid off. Her version of “Popular” was practically perfect. 

There isn’t a weak link in the entire cast. While the leading trio is phenomenal, even the side characters—Ethan Slater as Boq, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamund—are all picture-perfect. Jon M. Chu has such a deep love and appreciation for this story and music, and his (and everyone’s) passion truly bled through the screen. This was always going to be a feat of a movie to pull off, but I could feel how much everyone working on it loved the musical and were fans themselves. Nothing felt cheap, overwrought or added for no reason, as some recent adaptations have done. 

I genuinely cannot emphasize how scared I was to see this. “Wicked” has always meant so much to me, but this not only gives the original stage production its due respect but elevates it to a new and exciting level. It does many things that would never be possible on a stage and broadens the Land of Oz in a new and exciting way.

Jon M. Chu’s attention to detail made me feel so seen and appreciated as a diehard fan of the musical. And the beautiful thing about this film is that I’ve seen friends who knew nothing about “Wicked” love it, too–even actively seeking out the original Broadway cast recording. I was rooting for so long for this film to blow me away, and I’m endlessly happy to say it did.

Rating: 5/5