Wicked: For Good arrives a year after Wicked took the world by storm yet again. The musical has always been beloved and revered by many but last year we truly saw it become more mainstream. The big question was can they continue to defy gravity and fly high one more time? The answer is an undeniable YES!

Wicked: For Good picks things right off where we left them with some years in between. Elphaba is still seen as the Wicked Witch of The West and Glinda is now Glinda the Good. Oz has changed into a more authoritarian and dystopian world both Glinda and Elphaba navigate differently. Their lives are vastly different but deep down they still share the same love for one another.

The musical numbers are different this time around, trading in the large sequences for something more intimate. “No Good Deed” is the showstopper that really sets in motion the final act. Erivo is able to fully let go and showcase just how talented she is. It’s almost like a completely different turn for the character of Elphaba that Erivo is able to explore in this sequence. “No Good Deed” has some of the most exciting visuals and artistic touches in the whole movie. All of this with Erivo’s stunning voice has Elphaba literally floating.

Grande isn’t left behind either with Glinda getting more depth this time around. Ariana is without a doubt one of the best voices today and she makes sure to showcase it here. There’s a nuance that she brings here that makes Glinda much more complex this time around. I love that Glinda is given time to flesh out who she is and dreams to be. This was something I always felt was missing in the first film with the character. If Wicked was Elphaba’s movie then of course Wicked: For Good would be Glinda’s. Grande crafts something beautiful and transcendent with Glinda in this film. It makes that final encounter all the more touching and heartfelt. It’s a shame that this magic doesn’t seem to spread to the rest of Oz.

The rest of the cast is good in what they are given but also feel pushed to the shadows. Wicked: For Good is clearly not able to balance out the rest of Oz as the first one did. A lot of the characters also feel one dimensional in comparison to the first film. It’s more to do with the film feeling rushed in certain aspects as we jump from set to set. You don’t get much time to let certain scenes and emotions breathe. It’s clear the film needs to make its way to the end and so much is swept by at quick speed. There isn’t much to feel or think about as we race to the end in the second and third act. Dorothy’s group are introduced in the film’s final act as well in what could feel like a throwaway. This made for some jarring edits that made it feel more like a highlight reel. I’m of course not saying that this totally broke the movie, but it did hurt it somewhat.

Although I did have my problems, I still believe Wicked: For Good should be watched on the biggest and loudest screen possible. There’s just a magic that can only be felt here on a large screen. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are the real magic for the film. Wicked: For Good takes a few stumbles but the two actresses are able to hold the ship steady till the end. The final duet between Erivo and Grande is truly the heart of the film and what brings it together. “For Good” is not just the final musical number but also the farewell. A moment to reflect and say a final goodbye between these two individuals who have changed each other forever. There’s a delicacy that both Erivo and Grande share that make this one really be felt. Despite some of the hiccups and problems the movie has at the beginning it’s all forgotten here. A power ballad sung by two of the best voices in the business with an equally captivating scene by these actresses is just superb. Erivo and Grande are able to effortlessly light up and captivate the room here.

Wicked: For Good is truly movie magic.