Half one in all a two-part film that spans three hours in whole for the primary half of an uncompleted storyline, by no means has a film like Depraved felt so long as it has. Director John M. Chu, chargeable for musical bangers like Within the Heights and popcorn comedy Loopy Wealthy Asians, tells the origin story of the Depraved Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, two women who can be key gamers in The Wizard of Oz, some of the necessary movies ever made. This goals to present depth to Elphaba, an ostracized however defiant lady born with inexperienced pores and skin – while additionally fleshing out Glinda’s Galinda, an aristocrat born widespread and right into a lifetime of privilege.
The movie could be very a lot conscious of its standing as an origin story. You get to see how the Depraved Witch of the West bought her broomstick, flying monkeys, hat, all the way down to the letter – and the way the wizard of Oz made the yellow brick street. It’s a movie that takes away a few of the mysteries finest left unanswered in The Wizard of Oz, and is decided to stretch out its runtime for each single one. But it’s not even a whole origin story – half one in all a sequel that doesn’t arrive till subsequent 12 months leaves you feeling very a lot cheated in the identical means Throughout the Spider-Verse felt, with the supply materials it attracts from – the broadway 2003 theatre play provides extra color to The Great Wizard of Oz and opens, after the occasions of the ebook and the movie. Glinda the Good arrives on the Munchkin village to substantiate their hopes – the Depraved Witch of the Witch is lifeless – however there may be extra to her than that, and so they had been pals as soon as. So what follows is Glinda’s standpoint; regardless of the narrative being informed primarily from Elphaba’s perspective.
I’d envy anybody who tries to show to this – and particularly this – musical from stage to display screen nevertheless it’s a credit score to John M Chu that it nearly works. The songs by Stephen Shwartz are earnest, rousing and show-stopping – Defying Gravity is the massive showpiece second, however weirdly, it falls the flattest – the second that it’s deployed doesn’t land with the sense of liberation and freedom that it wants, as an alternative feeling just like the movie has to finish someplace. It goals for large concepts – bullying is a key theme of the primary half, however there’s additionally that of populism, the necessity for individuals to have somebody accountable, the demonisation of a distinction and corrupt leaders that’s, very floor stage, however very well timed. It exhibits indicators of better depth – lingering simply beneath the floor – utilizing Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Depraved: The Life and Occasions of the Depraved Witch of the West however giving it a Harry Potter-style coating. Elphaba is performed with wealthy company by Erivo who’s totally terrific – sharing unbelievable chemistry with Ariana Grande, who is excellent, and completely plausible at displaying simply how useless her character is – you purchase each second of her unparalleled confidence irrespective of how absurd it will get – and Chu doesn’t waste time in working headfirst into the madness and leaving nothing to play. Grande particularly makes use of her pure fame as a popstar – albeit, one which has fallen behind the curve due to the sheer success of Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Beyonce and Sabrina Carpenter in 2024 regardless of releasing a brand new album to ship a crowd-pleasing, lavish efficiency that exhibits her present for bodily comedy that Charlie Chaplin could be pleased with – even all the way down to the hair toss, it’s timed to perfection. I would wish to see her tackle extra appearing roles, she’s treading down that well-trodden path beautifully.
Her appearing abilities ought to earn her all of the plaudits – she’s capable of maintain her personal in opposition to the improbable Erivo; who steals the highlight in her personal means – the rendition of Defying Gravity is nice, if the modifying selections imply it’s considerably lacklustre in execution. Her efficiency of Elphaba is spot on, she’s been spurned by everybody, her personal father, her personal sister, and is aware of she will by no means have a cheerful ending. In that world, she’s nearly doomed from the beginning – circumstances of destiny strip away the nostalgic romanticisation of Oz – and present it because the flawed society that led to a Depraved Witch’s rise within the first place. Keep in mind – evil should come from someplace; and everybody has a special perspective of it.
The supporting solid is improbable and rightfully charismatic. Jonathan Bailey is a rogue, Elvis Presley-type boy marvel, who has the perspective of a Footloose protagonist who’s introducing music to a city who can’t dance. A love triangle feels inevitable, but on the identical time, pressured and awkward. Michelle Yeoh is sweet as a lecturer who sees potential in Elphaba, however Jeff Goldblum simply turns up, does his shtick, and goes dwelling. You recognize what you’re getting with him however the perfect factor to return out of his casting could also be his tried pronunciation of the phrase Cineworld within the multi-billion advertising scheme used to advertise the film.
And the modifying selections are the place the issues lie oh, the modifying selections. The color grading is stilted and odd, too dour and gray, missing the color that The Wizard of Oz had, one thing referred to as the Yellow Brick Street shouldn’t look boring but it does. Emerald Metropolis barely seems to be prefer it’s worthy of the title. What the movie succeeds at is popping a stage play to display screen – you get added options just like the colourfully named Shiz College, a Potter-like college that has its personal issues, animals are on the verge of being stripped from their talking roles and demonised in favour of being servants and stored in cages. The only animal professor, a goat – talks concerning the previous and why it’s so necessary to show it. It’s a testomony to Depraved that it feels so well timed.
It is advisable to see Depraved on the massive display screen to have a full impact, it’s giddy, infectious and drew applause from my screening who all appeared to find it irresistible (sans the one lone dad, who nodded off and began loud night breathing thirty minutes in), and its easy appeal and spontaneity earns the danger of casting a popstar within the lead position; and what a efficiency Grande offers. It’s let down by its size nevertheless and over-indulgence, the movie feels bloated and extreme in a means that Peter Jackson may even suppose was a bit a lot. A lot time is spent on the college but it’s the identical construction we’ve seen in each teen drama previously, magical or not – a Imply Women construction with out the necessity for being creative or completely different. Watching this on the small display screen is not going to have almost the identical impression, but on the identical time, its followers are about to observe it again and again.
Chu’s energy is within the musical numbers. The set-pieces are lavish and thrilling, and the reverence for the stage musical – anticipate actor cameos – and The Wizard of Oz is thick, however a bit too intensive. The usual Marvel humour is available in elements, however isn’t overbearingly so, and the humour right here feels purposely overbearing and awkward. But additionally humorous – I laughed. I favored it. However… did I find it irresistible? The important thing concern is in the way it seems to be – boring, devoid of color. Indefensible when The Wizard of Oz’s flamboyant, attractive technicolour renders it the most effective wanting American movies ever made.
The movie additionally ends with very a lot a “half one” feeling. There’s no decision. There’s no storyline, there’s no conclusion. It looks like simply as issues are getting attention-grabbing, simply as they’re transferring past the origin stage, it’s over, but for 3 hours, the movie ought to really feel shorter. The dance sequences don’t actually have time to breathe and really feel rushed, reduce to demise. The otherworldly nature of Oz doesn’t really feel fantastical – they’re meant to really feel actual, however hardly ever do. It’s highschool drama with a special coating and also you’ve seen hundreds of highschool dramas earlier than – why ought to The Wizard of Oz be became one more one? There’s queer subtext right here, however floor stage and extra effort is put in by the followers fairly than the filmmakers. It by no means feels visually artistic; and the stakes are pressured and empty by the actual fact you inevitably know the place it’s going – there’ s no stress – there’s no actual intrigue.
For such a key plot level, the oppression of the speaking animals is never tackled. It feels prefer it dominates greater than it does of the movie’s first hour or so, however rapidly fades away and is forgotten about. Depraved may’ve had extra to say concerning the present state of affairs than it does – it’s very, very floor stage. It’s finally arduous to really feel happy as a result of there is no such thing as a decision, it doesn’t stand by itself as a film and it doesn’t exist as a lot else aside from a set-up for a sequel about penalties. There’s a extra artistic, labyrinthically and wonderous movie in right here that dares to have a way of enjoyable – and there may be proof of that; however it’s few and much between. Far an excessive amount of is dedicated to its must hit an evidence for the whole lot that doesn’t have to be defined in The Wizard of Oz, sure it’s good to have Elphaba’s story informed – however there’s solely so many connect-the-dots you possibly can take. Fortunately, the musical numbers are licensed bops – and it is sufficient materials to maintain you entertained regardless of this.