Wicked: For Good Debuts with Solid 73% Rotten Tomatoes Score

Critics have delivered their initial verdict on Wicked: For Good, the concluding part of the two-film musical adaptation. The film has garnered a 73% rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes from 70 reviews ahead of its theatrical release on November 21. While this score is notably lower than the 88% achieved by the first installment, many reviews highlight the strength of the lead performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

Critical Reception and Consensus

The critical consensus suggests a film that delivers a satisfying, if flawed, finale for fans. Praise frequently centers on the emotional depth of the central friendship between Elphaba and Glinda. MovieWeb’s review commended the leads for making it “easy to stay invested,” while Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com noted the film “really sings where it counts: with the emotional ache of the fractured friendship.” Variety pointed out the benefit of giving the pair more scenes together, making the final chapter feel like a “robust tale unto itself.”

Criticisms and Dissenting Opinions

However, a common critique revolves around the film’s pacing and structure. Critics observed that despite being about a half-hour shorter than its predecessor, For Good “drags far more at times.” This sentiment is tied to the fundamental decision to split the Broadway show into two movies. Screen International criticized the “more-is-more approach” for creating a “numbing effect,” and The Film Verdict offered a harsher take, suggesting the story should end “for good.”

Cast and Release Details

The film features an extensive returning cast, including:

• Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
• Ariana Grande as Glinda
• Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero
• Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz
• Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
• Colman Domingo as Brrr the Cowardly Lion

Audiences can judge the film for themselves when Wicked: For Good opens in theaters nationwide on November 21.

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