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“Wicked” melds glitter and gloom on the big screen
Since 2003, smears of green face paint and the roaring crescendos of “Defying Gravity” have been consistent Broadway icons. However, on November 24, Universal Pictures brought this famous tale of two witches, Elphaba and Glinda, to the world’s cinemas.
As of January 15, “Wicked” has grossed $698 million worldwide. Churning out incessant pink and green merchandise, from color-changing instant macaroni to Elphaba-themed Crocs, “Wicked” paraphernalia has also proliferated on shelves across the country.
“Wicked” is the first of two parts; the second installment, “Wicked: For Good”, will be released in fall 2025. Part one comes to an end when the Broadway musical’s intermission would occur, with Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, belting through the skies of Oz.
Glitzy costumes, a star-studded cast, and colossal dance numbers fill the screening time of two hours and forty minutes. Additionally, at the insistence of Jon Chu, the film’s director, the sets of “Wicked” feature a sixteen ton green bullet train, nine million tulips, and an entire reservoir constructed for filming. However, is this tremendous budget enough to smooth over a drawn-out plot?
In the opening scene, Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, sails through the air in a saccharine-pink bubble, a bedazzled ball gown engulfing her. From beginning to end, “Wicked” delivers on its promise of jaw-dropping excess, a chance for escapism many audiences may relish.
This visual glut intensifies each time a character opens their mouth or breaks into a highly-choreographed dance display.
During “Dancing Through Life”, Prince Fiyero, played by Jonathan Bailey, vaults through rotating bookshelves and executes a front walkover, all while shamelessly flirting with the student body of Shiz University. This absurdity only intensifies as the film marches on, yet Chu’s directing manages to strike a balance.
Somehow, despite its saturation with computer-generated imagery (CGI) and celebrity cast members, “Wicked” as a whole isn’t nauseatingly extravagant. However, individual characters do toe this line on occasion.
At Shiz University, Oz’s premier wizarding institution, spellcasting talent or acrobatic prowess appears to excuse the main cast from adhering to the uniform code. Glinda dons a pink blazer and matching fascinator, never hesitating to voice her insufferable concerns. Boq, a comical Munchkin student, sports a bow tie and distastefully cropped capris. Elphaba, however, mainly respects the dress code, a certain relief to the administration.
Yet another element of absurdity that lends itself to laughter is Oz’s unique dialect — is it Ozian? Ozlish? — nobody’s sure. However, as Glinda would say, this “splendiferous” quirk solidifies the fantasy realm.
Subtle callbacks to “The Wizard of Oz” and the original Broadway production of “Wicked” sprinkle throughout the film. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, Broadway’s first Elphaba and Glinda, make an appearance. Menzel and Chenoweth sing of Oz’s prophecy and the Wizard’s rise to power, satisfying fans both old and new.
Despite the emotional and visual appeal, the primary critique of “Wicked” lies in its unoriginal story. Enter any movie theater and see that spinoffs and remakes fill the halls, from “Moana 2” to “Mufasa: The Lion King”. Is “Wicked” a necessary addition to the world of cinema, or is it just another expensive, recycled plot designed for maximum profit?
In short, “Wicked” is both; Its adapted storyline and $150 million budget are emblems of Hollywood’s current era, one that shows no signs of changing course in the near future.
However, the charm of “Wicked” prevails. Fantasy is inherently escapist, and “Wicked” undoubtedly delivers.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Sports
The girls’ swim and dive team makes waves with team spirit
This past fall, students at the high school may have seen several girls dressed up as Adam Sandler, adorned in baggy t-shirts, gym shorts, and backward hats, or decked out in all black including eye black. These are not new styles trending among teenagers. It’s one of the ways that the Girl’s Swim and Dive team is demonstrating team spirit.
“Spirit Day is an important tradition because not only does it keep up the team morale during the day prior to the meet, but it also serves as a reminder that these meets are supposed to be fun and exciting to participate in,” said Melinda Chiu ’26.
This swim season there were nine theme days: Pajama Day, Twin Day, Adam Sandler, Black Out, Pink Out, Raiders, Denim, and Red Out. Besides the spirit week staples Black Out and Red Out, everyone on the team was involved in themes chosen this year.
“One of the spirit days this year was Adam Sandler, and normally, I would be really self-conscious and embarrassed to dress like that on my own, but going all out on spirit with all these amazing swimmers and divers showcases the fact that we are one team and everyone has got your back,” said Elaine Cheng ’26. “We are proud of being a part of Swive Hive [a nickname the girls coined for the team] and not afraid to show it.”
During Black Out, the girls dress in all black for their meet against Milton High School. Red Out, where the girls dress in all red, is the biggest spirit day as it falls before their meet against Needham, one of their biggest competitors.
“Red Out is one of the favorite themes,” said Sophie Kwan ’25. “It’s a little silly, but it really brings the team together to take pictures and have fun.”
The spirit week is organized solely by the team without any coach input.
“I do my best to support and encourage the girls to take leadership and own these aspects of the team. They do an amazing job and it really makes my life so much easier knowing that the team culture and traditions are driven by the team members themselves,” said Girls’ Swim coach Doug Curtin.
Outside of spirit week, another big tradition is the team’s annual trip to Provincetown, where they participate in the Provincetown Swim for Life. Swim for Life is a fundraising event that raises money for health care around the Cape, specifically for terminal illnesses such as AIDS and breast cancer. Although two courses were available, a half-mile course and a 1.2-mile course, this year the entire team swam the 1.2-mile along the East End shoreline.
“The swim is just purely for team bonding and charity. It’s a good initial team bonding experience to get to know new people on the team and get familiar with people that you maybe haven’t talked to,” said Kwan.
The team’s participation isn’t only important for building relationships between teammates, but also for establishing connections with the charity.
“Each year, the event organizer drives over two hours to Wellesley just so that he can thank the girls and be a part of our end-of-season banquet which shows just how meaningful it is that our girls participate in the event each year,” said Curtin.
The team ensures that they keep the team spirit tradition alive by encouraging the community aspect of the sport and keeping traditions easy for everyone on the team to participate in.
“[Team spirit] is something that we pass down every year. When I was a freshman, I remember the seniors saying, ‘Always cheer for each other, and sometimes for the other team if they need support,’” said Kwan. “That’s something that really makes a team. It isn’t just winning, but also uplifting each other.”
