The app that tells you the best time to run and pee during a movie without missing the best scenes.

100% free (donation supported) iPhone | Android

Movie Review – Wicked

wicked_hero

Let me say upfront that I’m not a fan of musicals, so I’m not the target audience. I could be the poster child for the inverse-target audience. So, if you’re a 57-year-old white guy who doesn’t like musicals, read on. 🙂

Just because I don’t like musicals doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate them. For instance, I gave Barbie an A, because the songs were entertaining and well-written and accentuated the story instead of telling the story.

——Content continues below——

The World’s Most Indispensable Movie App

The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.


As seen on

Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)

Get the RunPee app at the Google Play Store       Get the RunPee app at the Google Play Store

Read more about the RunPee app.



Let me explain, because I actually figured out what it is that I don’t like about musicals while watching Wicked. I find that musicals are like reading a book where the author tells the reader what is going on and how the characters feel. The first rule of writing, if there were such a thing, is: show, don’t tell. For instance, if a writer writes: “I’ll make a scrambled egg sandwich,” Bob said depressingly. That is a huge mistake. Instead, the writer should examine how to show the reader that Bob is depressed about making a scrambled egg sandwich.

All of this is to say, I think that Wicked uses the songs more to express what the characters are thinking and feeling instead of accentuating the story. I’m not saying it was nothing but that, but mostly.

Performances

I have to say, Ariana Grande is the best evidence I’ve seen that we live in a simulation. She is too blond; too petite; too gifted to be real. She is like a Disney princess, but real. And this is coming from someone who up until two weeks ago thought she was a middle-aged British woman. (I’m not sure who I was confusing her with.) She was also a splendid actress. Her character was a little over the top, but she sold that aspect well enough. I’d love to see her get a chance in something a little more real and meaty.

Cynthia Erivo was the strength of the movie. Her range of facial expressions sold her character’s depth. She was the bright and shining light when it comes to quality acting in Wicked. And as talented a singer as Ariana is, her voice can’t match the power and depth that Erivo brings. The final Defying Gravity song was tremendous and easily the only song in the movie that I thought added to the story.

I’ve been a huge Michelle Yeoh fan since I first saw her in SuperCop with Jackie Chan back in 1992. She made a great Madame Morrible, but wow, she can not sing at all. That’s okay, it wouldn’t be fair for her to have a great singing voice to go along with all of her other talents.

Is it ironic that Peter Dinklage is in Wicked but doesn’t play a munchkin? I recognized his voice as Dr. Dillamond after about three syllables.

What people are saying
about the RunPee app.

star star star star star

Tawney Markham

May 15, 2020

Got this back when I was pregnant, but I’ll be keeping it forever, it’s just so handy. I don’t go to the movie theater that often (even back before quarantine when you actually could…) but I make sure the app and the movie list are all current and updated, cause it’s so handy! It’s great for running late cause you can read their summary, obviously awesome for bathroom or snack breaks mid movie, and I also love that it tells you if there’s anything after the credits which is very handy.

View all reviews
Apple App Store | Google Play Store

Download RunPee app

Apple App store     Google Play Store

And finally, Jeff Goldblum is a slam dunk as the Wizard of Oz. There couldn’t have been another choice.

Story

I would love to see a non-musical version of this story, because it really is compelling, even though I don’t know how it ends. I love that the villains are the people that the hero most admires when the story begins. The message of Elphaba’s determination to overcome her perceived stigmas is motivational. Wicked has many of the elements needed to stand as a great story, if it weren’t drown in song and dance scenes.

Grade: C+

About The Peetimes: Obviously, I tried to avoid singing in the Peetimes. I was mostly successful.

I think the second and third Peetimes are the best.

There are no extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of Wicked.

Rated: (PG) Some Scary Action | Brief Suggestive Material | Thematic Material
Genres: Fantasy, Musical, Romance
USA release date: 2024-11-22
Movie length:
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Director: Jon M. Chu
Writer(s): Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire
Language: English
Country: United States

Plot
A vivid reimagining of the classic The Wizard of Oz, Wicked spotlights the untold stories of Oz’s most famous (or infamous) characters, namely the Wicked Witch of the West and her unlikely friend, Glinda the Good Witch. The show follows green-skinned star Elphaba from birth to college and through the life-changing events which eventually label her “wicked,” introducing spoiled rich girl Glinda, local prince and heartthrob Fiyero and even the Wizard of Oz himself, a troubled man very unlike the one you may remember. As Elphaba, a passionate political activist if there ever was one, fights injustice and seeks to undo the mistakes of the past, dark secrets and personal tragedies shape the history of Oz, paying homage to the classic Wizard of Oz story while simultaneously changing fans’ understanding of it forever. A cautionary tale about love, friendship and trust, Wicked effortlessly reveals that there are indeed two sides to every story.

Don’t miss your favorite movie moments because you have to pee or need a snack. Use the RunPee app (Androidor iPhone) when you go to the movies. We have Peetimes for all wide release films every week, including Wicked, Gladiator II, Red One, The Wild Robot and coming soon  Moana 2, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, Kraven the Hunter, Mufasa: The Lion King and many others. We have literally thousands of Peetimes—from classic movies through today’s blockbusters. You can also keep up with movie news and reviews on our blog, or by following us on Twitter @RunPee. If there’s a new film out there, we’ve got your bladder covered.

Comments

6 responses to “Movie Review – Wicked”

  1.  Avatar

    It is a shame that the reviewer has no knowledge of the working of American Musical Theater. Everything he did not like is exactly as the art form should be. It would behoove him to do his homework before attempting a viable critique of this genre! Shame on you for yet more today’s barfed-up misinformation spewed out to the gullible and uninformed public.
    I would definitely find another line of work! And have an honesty injection while you’re at it.

    1. Dude, I’m a software developer. I provide these reviews as a resource that fans have asked for. It’s not my profession. I’m also a professional writer. I have an opinion that musicals are generally poor at telling stories, or at least they lean on weak tools to tell a story. If you love musicals then I’m sure it doesn’t bother you. But as a writer, it’s weak-sauce.

      Regarding “barfed-up misinformation,” I have no idea what you’re talking about. I haven’t read a single review of this movie and have no interest in doing so. If there’s some narrative going on about this movie I’m unaware of it. I don’t need to know that crap to have an opinion of the movie I watched.

  2. Thank you Dan for providing an invaluable resource for the movie minded people like me who need this resource like air and popcorn!

    I’ve been using runpee as long as I can remember and thank you for this tool! I need it in my life so bad!

    1. Hi Jess. Thanks for the comment. I’m glad the app has been useful for you. It isn’t like a cure for cancer or anything. But I like to think I’ve made the world just a little bit better.

  3. Terry W Mccleary Jr Avatar
    Terry W Mccleary Jr

    Thanks “Dan, the run pee man”! You guys have been the best “movie wingman” ever created!
    I may not always agree with reviews, but I’ve found they are insightful and informative! I think “anonymous” should do thier own homework regarding the app and read more open mindfully!
    Thanks for all you all do!
    Happy Holidays to you and yours!

    1. Thank you for the kind comment. It would be scary if we did agree all the time, right? 🙂

      Happy Holidays to you as well.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RunPee