AILSA CHANG, HOST:
The longest intermission in musical comedy history ends this week as moviegoers return to Oz for what, at least on Broadway, is "Wicked's" second act. Critic Bob Mondello says the film "Wicked: For Good" offers its stars new songs and its director fresh obstacles.
BOB MONDELLO, BYLINE: The yellow brick road is under construction as we rejoin the characters from the first "Wicked" movie. Elphaba, exiled after defying both gravity and the fraud who calls himself a wizard, is making superhero landings and wreaking as much green havoc as she can with just a broom.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "WICKED: FOR GOOD")
CYNTHIA ERIVO: (As Elphaba) This is between us - the wizard and I.
MONDELLO: Glinda, meanwhile, has been made the wizard's chief propagandist by Madame Morrible.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "WICKED: FOR GOOD")
MICHELLE YEOH: (As Madame Morrible) It's more important than ever that you lift everyone's spirits.
MONDELLO: In return, she's gotten the popularity she craved, plus...
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "WICKED: FOR GOOD")
ARIANA GRANDE: (As Glinda) Does that do what I think it does?
MONDELLO: ...A flashy, motorized pink bubble.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "WICKED: FOR GOOD")
GRANDE: (As Glinda) No.
(SOUNDBITE OF BUBBLE POPPING)
GRANDE: (As Glinda) I'm obsessulated (ph).
MONDELLO: It's designed to make Glinda seem magical...
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "WICKED: FOR GOOD")
YEOH: (As Madame Morrible) The wand really sells it.
MONDELLO: ...Which she is not. Elphaba is, and because she knows the blowhard wizard is pushing fake news...
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "WICKED: FOR GOOD")
JEFF GOLDBLUM: (As The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) We got a whole lot of people who will believe all sorts of things that aren't true.
ERIVO: (As Elphaba) So you lie to them?
GOLDBLUM: (As The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) Only verbally.
MONDELLO: ...And is also, let's say, dictatorious (ph) or maybe fascistified (ph), she is in danger.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "WICKED: FOR GOOD")
GOLDBLUM: (As The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) Bring me the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West, so I have proof that she's dead.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "NO GOOD DEED")
ERIVO: (As Elphaba, singing) No good deed goes unpunished.
MONDELLO: You can sing that again, which is, of course, the point - big ballads for the two leading ladies about their lives, thoughts, conflicts. If you somehow missed the backstory to this backstory, "Wicked," first a novel, then a Broadway musical, was conceived as a prequel for adults to the events depicted in "The Wizard Of Oz."
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "WICKED: FOR GOOD")
ERIVO: (As Elphaba) There's a house, and it's flying through the sky.
MONDELLO: It was nothing if not complicated, both morally and plot-wise, origin stories for The Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, mostly brushed in after the central pink and green witch frenemies were well established.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "WICKED: FOR GOOD")
GRANDE: (As Glinda, imitating Elphaba cackling).
(As Glinda) Please, where'd you get that?
MONDELLO: But that meant filmmaker Jon M. Chu had a problem when the Broadway hit became two movies. The story's early going about growing up has songs that are popular, gravity defying. The later going is about wising up consequences, the politics of oppression. It kind of doesn't sing. So for this movie...
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE GIRL IN THE BUBBLE")
GRANDE: (As Glinda, singing) There's that...
MONDELLO: ...Stephen Schwartz wrote a new tune for Ariana Grande...
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE GIRL IN THE BUBBLE")
GRANDE: (As Glinda, singing) ...Beautiful girl with a beautiful life, such a beautiful life built on lies.
MONDELLO: ...About Glinda's life in a bubble. And for Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba?
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "NO PLACE LIKE HOME")
ERIVO: (As Elphaba, singing) Why do I love this place that's never loved me?
MONDELLO: A musical nod to the original "Wizard Of Oz."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "NO PLACE LIKE HOME")
ERIVO: (As Elphaba, singing) But there's no place like home.
MONDELLO: And they're fine - I mean, fabulously sung, even if they seem as aimed at original song Oscar nominations as at filling plot holes. They just can't make this prequel sequel feel any less dutiful or by the numbers, rehashing bits of "The Wizard Of Oz," shoehorning in animals who no longer talk, when all you really want is that song that gives "Wicked: For Good" its title.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "FOR GOOD")
GRANDE: (As Glinda, singing) I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason.
MONDELLO: After way too long, you get it - powerhouse voices singing about friendship, doing good when good is hard.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "FOR GOOD")
ARIANA GRANDE AND CYNTHIA ERIVO: (As Glinda and Elphaba, singing) Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
MONDELLO: For fans, this two-movie trek may feel worth it, but entrancilating (ph)? Man, I wish. I'm Bob Mondello.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "WICKED: FOR GOOD")
GRANDE: (As Glinda, singing) Because I knew you...
ERIVO: (As Elphaba) You're the only friend I ever had.
(As Elphaba, singing) Because I knew you...
GRANDE: (As Glinda) And I've had so many friends.
ERIVO: (As Elphaba, laughing).
GRANDE AND ERIVO: (As Glinda and Elphaba, singing) ...I have been changed for good.
GRANDE: (As Glinda) But only one that mattered.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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