Twenty-one years after its Broadway premiere, Wicked invites himself to the cinema. A real hit in New York and London, the musical has many fans that Universal hopes to bring to theaters around the world. The world of the Wizard of Oza top-notch cast and a daunting promotional campaign, the stars are aligned for commercial success. According to projections for the American market, the footage of Jon Chu could raise over $100 million and surpass Gladiator II by Ridley Scott. The first American reviews have been published, an opportunity to take the temperature and find out if Wicked will be as popular as hoped. Press review.
A duo that defies gravity!
To say that Wicked was expected at the turn is an understatement. If the license is less known in France, many English speakers worship this production which has risen to second place among the most seen musicals on Broadway. Behind The Lion King, the adventures of Glinda and Elphaba have brought in more than one $1.6 billion in the United States alone. Worn by Indina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in its original version, Wicked is a multi-awarded monument. According to some American media, John Chu managed to encapsulate this success thanks to the certain talent of its two main actresses. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande stand out as excellent Elphaba and Glinda. According to Empirethe magic of the film owes a lot to the relationship between the two heroines.
A feeling shared by Digital Spy : “The real strength of Wicked lies in the duo Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who excel in these iconic roles”. Discussing Film adds that “Erivo and Grande emerge as true movie stars, with moving and complex performances, bringing the musical to life with profound care”. Ariana Grande has dreamed of portraying Glinda for decades, the realization of this ambition is obviously the most beautiful effect.
Visually stunning?
In addition to the vocal performances of these actors and actresses, Wicked is based on a rich visual universe that must be brought to life on the big screen. While the musical relies on practical effects and grandiose sets to make its magic work, John Chu must combine his techniques with those of digital technology to bring a gripping world of Oz to life. On this point, not all journalists agree that it is a real success. The Boston Globe calls the proposal “visually unappealing cinematic version”.
Empire was more sensitive to the director’s creative choices, “Chu amplifies the color and spectacle to extraordinary, almost overwhelming heights”. Vanity Fair adds that this is a “irreproachable convergence” of several cinema crafts: “high-level directors, stars and creatives and materials”. For Chicago Reader, the film is both “smart, sweet and sassy, with stunning special effects, vibrant color cinematography and production, dynamic vocals and dancing, and best of all, moving, intimate storytelling.”
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Currently, Wicked displays a score of 90% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes on the side of the press, against 99% among viewers (among more than 2,500 verified reviews). On MetaCritic, the film has a score of 73 with 44 recorded reviews. To discover the film in France, you still need to have a little patience. The release is scheduled for December 4th.
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