FILM REVIEW: WICKED – FOR GOOD (PG) ESP RATING: 3.5/5

After a meandering start, this second instalment of the musical juggernaut springs into life to provide a fitting finale to the two-parter.

It ends up being just about the equal of the first film, even if the lack of memorable toe-tapping numbers seen last time round, have to be replaced with an emotional underbelly to pull it through its weaker moments.

And it works. The last hour in particular is very enjoyable. And being 25 minutes shorter than its predecessor makes it a bit more palatable to the casual film-goer too.

Set several years after the first movie, Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) – now notoriously known as the Wicked Witch of the West – is living as a fugitive, only coming ‘out of the shadows’ to cause havoc when she sees an opportunity to try and reveal Jeff Goldblum’s fraudulent Wizard of Oz, and turning activist to save the ‘voiceless’ animals of the kingdom.

Complete with new ‘bubble carriage’ – to give the illusion that she actually has ‘magical’ powers – Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande) is now Oz’s darling, despite being manipulated behind the scenes by the wizard, and Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible.

And when Glinda announces her engagement to surprised prince Fiyero Tigelaar, it sets off a series of events – also involving Elphaba’s paraplegic younger sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) and her munchkin servant Boq (Ethan Slater) – that leads to iconic Kansas-based girl Dorothy being swept into the Land of Oz, as Elphaba is backed into a ‘no-win’ situation.

Not being privy to the musical myself – so can only judge the two parts from a film standpoint – the way 1939’s The Wizard of Oz is blended into the latter events of the movie definitely proves to be a welcome nostalgic addition, as the origins of Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow are revealed.

And even though there’s a lack of the same major musical sequences that empowered the original, there’s still one or two – particularly ‘For Good’ toward the climax – that still makes this stand out too.

Even though it arguably benefits at points from more actual ‘acting’ over ‘singing’ – as Erivo and Grande continue to shine in their lead roles.

As with films that have been ‘cut in half’ the opening salvo does mean this sequel does take a while to get going – but when it does there’s a really wicked time to be had here.

ESP Rating: 3.5/5

Gavin Miller

Odeon Luxe Peterborough & Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Colman Domingo & Jeff Goldblum

Running Time: 2 Hrs 17 Mins

Director: John M Chu

Wicked: For Good Is Currently Screening At Peterborough’s Odeon Luxe (also available on Imax) & Showcase Cinema De Lux

For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe Cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk