MickeyJoTheatre – "WICKED: For Good" (Spoiler-Free Review)

Host: Mickey Jo
Episode Date: November 22, 2025
Episode Focus: A spoiler-free review of the second film adaption of "Wicked"—called Wicked: For Good—starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

Episode Overview

Mickey Jo delivers an in-depth, spoiler-free review of Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated conclusion to the two-part film adaptation of the Broadway hit "Wicked." Reflecting on both the film's standalone qualities and its relationship to Act 2 of the stage musical, Mickey Jo offers insights into the movie’s successes, challenges, performances, music, themes, visuals, and its broader meaning for both fans and the future of movie musicals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Weight of Anticipation

• Decades in the Making: The road to the Wicked films has been lengthy; the anticipation among theatre fans has been immense. Mickey Jo stresses just how much the musical means to theatre lovers and why expectations were sky-high.

  "Wicked on screen has kind of brought a great many of us together...everyone has been able to be at least a little bit excited about finally getting to see these witches on screen now." (03:13)

• Unusual Adaptation Structure: Dividing the musical into two films was "controversial" and set the second film up with "enormous slippers to fill," as Act 2 is considered weaker than Act 1 by many fans.

  "Wicked for good had an awful lot to measure up to and an awful lot of challenges to begin with." (10:51)

2. How Does the Film Hold Up?

• Quality within the Genre:

  "It is certainly in perhaps the top two tiers, the upper echelons of movie musicals that we have ever seen because there are so, so many that just plainly don't work..." (12:23)

• Strong, if Not Superior: Wicked: For Good stands just beneath the first film ("not a Shrek 2 situation")—a strong sequel but not a game-changer.

  "It feels very much like a sequel...it doesn't eclipse the first film and surpass it like the Shrek twos of this world." (13:56)

3. Differences in Tone and Storytelling

• From Friendship Comedy to Political Drama:

  "It felt like a high school or college Enemies to Friends comedy film...that's not where we are in the second film." (15:40)
  "In the second film...we are following the two of them and the choices that they have made for themselves...in this authoritarian political regime." (16:02)

• Mature Themes: He likens the film to a "political superhero movie," with more emphasis on Oz’s politics and less on adolescent whimsy.
• Pacing & Musical Differences: Act 2 (and thus the film) contains more fragmented songs, dialogue interruptions, and a "more grown up" tone, which means fewer grand musical numbers in sequence.

  "So many of them are interrupted by dialogue and the music feels a lot more sparse..." (18:17)

4. Adaptation Choices & Character Focus

• Expanded Moments:

  "There are at least a couple of scenes that used to be entire self contained scenes that are now divided in two...very beneficial in terms of character development." (27:09)

• Shifted Focus to Glinda:

  "[Glinda] is more so...the leading character of this film with Elphaba sort of relegated to the supporting role." (26:43)
  Ariana Grande's Glinda has greater narrative weight here, which will impact award categorization discussions.

5. Handling "Oz" and Dorothy

• Dorothy Stays Shadowy: Despite fan curiosity and expanded runtime, the film follows the stage tradition of keeping Dorothy and her friends mostly offstage—still invoking Oz's classic story while honoring its own perspective.

Themes & Political Commentary

• Political Allegory:

  "Wicked for Good is undeniably a political film...depicting here is the concept of a regime clinging to power by way of this cult of personality...using propaganda...fear-mongering and scapegoating..." (21:30)

• Friendship & Queer Subtext:

  "Those of you...who long to see a more literally realized, overtly romantic relationship between Elphaba and Glinda...they are certainly putting a little something down that you can choose to pick up should you wish to." (23:38)

• Darker but Still Humorous: While the tone has shifted toward the serious, "a lot of funny moments" remain (especially via Ariana's line deliveries and supporting cast), but some comic bits from stage have been cut.

Memorable Quote on Tone:

"We are living in darker times. So there are a lot of comedy lines from the stage show...entirely gone. And the feel...while not feeling particularly dark or intense, feels just that little bit more serious." (25:05)

Music & New Songs

General Impressions

• Heavily Rearranged Score: Many Act 2 songs have been musically and lyrically reworked, to Mickey Jo’s surprise, but the classic showstoppers are preserved.

  "There are multiple songs in this film that have musically and lyrically rewritten first verses...But for the purists...the more major and popular songs [are] entirely as they have always been." (29:20)

• Incidental Music: He praises the film's use of musical cues from the first movie, enriching the emotional palette.

On the Two New Songs

• Oscar Prospects:

  "Golden from K Pop Demon Hunters remains uncontested as far as the Academy Award for Best Original Song goes...I think it's pretty safe to say at this point that Stephen Schwartz and Wicked for Good will not be joining them." (30:40)

• Quality and Character: The new songs are "sedate and introspective," tailored to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s voices, but don't feel classic Wicked.

  "It doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. Maybe it sticks out like a slightly wonky index finger." (31:37)

• Stephen Schwartz’s Writing:

  "They sound more like his work from other projects...It felt very Aida…than Wicked." (31:02)

• Fun Observation:

  "It’s objectively a little bit funny that...for us to get two new songs that sound less like Wicked than dozens of scores that have been written since is a little bit funny." (32:10)

Performances

Ariana Grande as Glinda

• Scene-Stealer & Lead:

  "Her role feels larger and more focused on...I think I found a little bit more reward in those moments of contemplation and doubt and struggle that we were seeing faltering on Ariana's lips..." (33:57)

• Nominative Controversy: Mickey Jo expects discussion over Lead vs. Supporting Actress categories due to how prominent Glinda is this time.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba

• Strong but Flattened:

  "The relentless frustration experienced by Cynthia as Elphaba...didn't feel as though it had dynamics in the same way." (34:26)

• Wanted more emotional range than the constant "frustration" Elphaba is given here.

Supporting Cast

• Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero): "Remains swoon worthy is the professional adjective that I'm going to use there." (35:41)
• Jeff Goldblum (Wizard) & Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible): Critiqued for being "too Goldblum" and lacking vocally, with some disappointing choices in the second film.
• Ensemble: British musical theatre talents pepper crowd scenes; Marissa’s Nessarose adaptation is flagged for more detailed (spoiler-y) discussion later.

Visuals & Design

Technical Achievements

• Practical Sets & Cinematography: Praises practical builds and behind-the-scenes craftsmanship. Lots of "mirror shots" as a directorial motif.

  "You'll discover when you see it...lots of mirror shots in this one." (36:55)

• Parallel Visuals: The film's most striking sequence involves crosscutting between Elphaba and Glinda, echoing both their diverging and parallel fates.
• Character & Costume Design: Both Elphaba and Glinda's new looks honor both the Wicked stage show and the classic MGM "Wizard of Oz," with special mention of Glinda’s gown (but—cryptically—not its shoulder straps!).
• Political Visuals:

  "It is clear that we are talking about fascism. It is clear that we are talking about history that has the capacity to repeat itself." (38:22)

Easter Eggs Galore

• "Thoroughly charmed and emotional" by the film's nods to Wicked and the 1939 Wizard of Oz.

Final Verdict & Notable Quotes

• Strong, Worthy Sequel:

  "It stands proudly alongside the first film. It is a worthy sequel...Not going to exceed its critical celebration necessarily...but it remains a very good film." (41:32)

• Relief & Satisfaction:

  "Wicked has now been fully adapted to screen and that it has been good. I was pretty confident...but now...I am very satisfied with the whole thing." (42:17)

• On the Future of Movie Musicals:

  "Maybe more movie musical projects will get greener lit because of the critical and commercial success of Wicked." (43:11)

• For Musical Fans:

  "Wicked fans, musical theater fans, this is going to make your little green hearts happy." (41:42)

Timestamps: Important Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |---------|------------------------------------------------| | 02:11 | Background, personal connection to Wicked | | 05:30 | Context: Adapting Wicked Act 2, challenges | | 10:51 | Burden and anticipation for part 2 | | 12:23 | How Wicked: For Good fits in musical film canon| | 16:02 | Political/superhero tone of Act 2/film | | 21:24 | The film’s political allegory | | 26:43 | Glinda’s prominence in the sequel | | 29:20 | Musicality, new arrangements & new songs | | 33:55 | Performances breakdown | | 36:55 | Visual storytelling, design, cinematography | | 41:32 | Summary, final verdict | | 43:11 | Reflections on the future of movie musicals |

Conclusion

Mickey Jo’s spoiler-free review makes clear that Wicked: For Good meets, if not quite exceeds, the weighty expectations set by Act 1’s adaptation. It’s a more serious, political, and Glinda-focused film, with rewarding Easter eggs and excellent visuals, even if the new songs don’t become instant classics. Fans and newcomers alike will find it a satisfying, emotional conclusion—one that cements the Wicked films' place in the musical movie canon.

A parting shot for the fans:

"Go and check this film out. You will not regret it. Wicked fans, musical theater fans, this is going to make your little green hearts happy." (41:42)

For more on lyrics, adaptation changes, and a spoiler-inclusive deep dive, Mickey Jo promises upcoming detailed discussions on his platforms.