"Wicked" film adaptation explores friendship and themes of defiance despite pacing issues

The film adaptation of "Wicked," based on the popular Broadway musical, explores the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West. It features Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and her friendship with Glinda, portrayed by Ariana Grande, during their time at Shiz University. While the movie captures key musical moments, it struggles with pacing and character development. The plot includes a rushed subplot about talking animals, which lacks depth in Elphaba's motivations. The film's visual style is criticized for being dull outside of musical numbers. Despite its shortcomings, "Wicked" remains a faithful adaptation that resonates with themes of freedom and defiance. The film runs for 2 hours and 40 minutes and is rated PG for some thematic material.