Wicked: For Good review — a magnetic continuation that wins over some skeptics
Wicked: For Good, the long-awaited second installment of the musical adaptation, arrives with a mix of high expectations and cautious optimism. Critics who felt the first film was a deft but imperfect transition from stage to screen will find that this sequel leans into its strengths with more confidence. It isn’t a flawless transition, but it is a consistently enjoyable ride that deepens the emotional current of the story and widens the musical world that audiences first embraced.
Ariana Grande shines in a theatre-laden landscape
The standout element of For Good is how Ariana Grande, stepping into the dual roles that demand vocal range and emotional nuance, manages to break through the noise. Her performance carries a core warmth and vulnerability that amplify the show’s heart-tugging themes. Grande’s moments are both intimate and electrifying, turning earlier misgivings about the adaptation into a palpable sense of anticipation for what her character can achieve in the story’s second half.
Emotionally soaring songs and a robust ensemble
The score remains a central engine, with earworm melodies that linger after the credits. The second act expands the musical vocabulary—balancing lush ballads with sharper, more rhythmic numbers that highlight the characters’ evolving stakes. The ensemble work is consistently strong, treating each number as a scene-maker that furthers the plot rather than a mere performance. Even when the narrative traverses familiar ground, the music and timing render it fresh and emotionally resonant.
A heart-tugging theme that resonates under bright lights
For Good continues to explore themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the moral gray areas that follow road-tested choices. The film leans into its heart without losing sight of its broader social commentary, a balance that keeps the story relevant and relatable. The emotional through-line—how choices define the people we become—lands with a sincere, often bittersweet punch that lingers beyond the final chorus.
Craft, pacing, and the studio’s ambitious scope
Visually, the production design presents a polished, theatrical sensibility translated for the big screen. The direction prioritizes clarity in both intimate character moments and large-scale ensemble numbers, preventing the shift from stage to screen from feeling merely decorative. Pacing benefits from tighter edits in key sequences, ensuring the emotional beats land with the intended impact rather than dissipating under a flood of spectacle.
Will it win over skeptics? It might not convert all, but it convinces many
Wicked: For Good is unlikely to persuade everyone that a cinematic sequel is essential viewing. Yet it does what good sequels should: deepen character arcs, elevate musical moments, and extend the world without sacrificing the magic that made the first film a cultural moment. The collaboration between the cast and the creative team feels clearly invested, and that authenticity translates into a film that lands with both fans and newcomers who appreciate a well-told, emotionally rich musical story.
Bottom line
For audiences driven by character-driven storytelling and show-stopping songs, Wicked: For Good offers a satisfying, emotionally charged continuation. Ariana Grande’s standout turn, combined with a stronger musical arc and thoughtful staging, makes this sequel feel more captivating than its predecessor while staying true to the themes that make Wicked a enduring phenomenon.
