[Watch the review above or read it below!]

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Wicked is a mostly enjoyable musical spectacle, albeit one weighed down by an overlong part-one structure. And no, I’ve never seen the stage musical – so if you’re hoping for comparisons, best click those ruby slippers elsewhere.

The film wastes no time enchanting you with its intriguing opening and a well-crafted world. While the narrative plays out as a somewhat predictable “mean girl meets outcast” tale, the leads keep the magic alive. Cynthia Erivo is strong and Ariana Grande surprises with her comedic chops – and of course they can both sing their hearts out. Add some dazzling musical numbers, impressive production design, and slick direction from Jon M. Chu, and you’ve got a potion that mostly works.

But… in my opinion, Wicked struggles to justify its runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes. Hints of intriguing wider-world conflicts peek through, but much of the plot feels like a familiar high-school drama wrapped in glittery emerald trimmings. By the time the story finally picks up steam, my patience had already started to wane. And just as things hit their stride with a strong climactic act—poof, it’s over. More of that high-stakes energy and less of the schoolyard drama would have been the right spell for me.

Still, there’s enough here to keep you invested, and I’m keen to see where the broomstick flies in Chapter Two. Wicked may falter in pacing, but it’s hooked me in—an important feat for a two-parter.