Critics aren't always right. Sure, we've studied film, and there are specific angles and factors we look at to determine whether a movie or TV show is indeed well made, but at the end of the day, art will always be subjective. Something can be horribly executed on paper, and it won't work for the majority of us, but it will still touch viewers for a very specific reason, regardless. Most of my favorite rom-coms were initially hated by critics.
This reception is also the case with Wicked: For Good (2025). It's not a perfect film for critics. (But really, what is?) However, it's still one worth watching in theaters for its ability to capture and enhance key moments from the stage production.
'Wicked: For Good' Features Climactic Moments Meant To Finish The Story
Even the biggest fans of the theatrical production will tell you that Act II of Wicked (2024) is weaker than Act I. While the songs are still well-written, they aren't as catchy, and the way the overall story wraps up, understandably, isn't everyone's cup of tea. But in a case like this, completion matters. We can't just leave the story with the end of Cynthia Erivo perfectly belting out the lyrics to "Defying Gravity." Her fight against The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), Madam Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), and how they've vilified her to all of Oz, as well as everything that transpires with Glinda, matters.
Plus, while the story isn't a happy one, it's necessary. The messages presented within aren't just significant to this particular story, but they're also timely. They matter in a world where we're constantly asking questions about the right path to take. They matter in examining our own characters, those beside us, and everyone with the power to do something to improve life for human beings. And stories like Wicked aren't rare in the fictional world, but their relevance is something we'll always need as unstable human beings.
The Performances In 'Wicked: For Good' Are Incredible
Narratively, even if Act II is weaker than the first, most of us still leave the theatrical production riding high on the performances. It's what makes the viewing experience as special as it is. And despite the flaws in Wicked: For Good, the performances are faultless. This statement is especially true for leading star Cynthia Erivo and the multiple standout moments she gets with her rendition of "No Good Deed," "As Long as You're Man," and, no exaggeration, every song she's featured in.
What Erivo and Jonathan Bailey bring to "As Long as You're Mine" is close to perfect, making this the type of story that even Bridgerton Season 2 fans could find fun comparisons in. How everything between Elphaba and Glinda comes to fruition is in so small part because of everything Erivo and Ariana Grande bring to the table. It's clear as day that the women not only care about their characters, but they also care about the friendship between them to the point where it makes "For Good" so evocative that it's impossible to describe it.
Visually, It’s an Improvement
One of the biggest complaints from Wicked: Part One was the visuals. It simply wasn't bright enough despite Oz being such a vibrant place. But Wicked: For Good is a tremendous improvement in this regard, and it's especially apparent on the big screen, where so many of the visuals ensure that the narrative shines even brighter. The brighter moments make everything else come to life more incredibly, like costumes, makeup, and the set design, allowing the performances to feel bolder.
In truth, musicals and vibrant, bold fantasies aren't for everybody. It isn't every person who can feel the evocative messages about good vs. evil when it isn't outright spoken, but sung instead. Because of this, musicals often get a lot more flak than regular movies. But if you love musicals, specifically Wicked: Part One, then it doesn't matter that critics are dismissing a majority of it. Though the pacing might not be ideal and the execution ultimately proves that the story didn't need to be split into two parts, it's still worth watching because this isn't a traditional sequel that follows a single complete movie—it's two halves of a whole instead.
Wicked: For Good is no masterpiece, but again, Act II isn't either. However, when we look at the two movies together, that's when the entire story becomes as revolutionary as the stage production is. That's where the themes all come to completion, thrusting us all right into the origins of The Wizard of Oz (1939).
