When music carries the story

Both turned out to be box-office hits. But “Wicked” and “Wicked For Good” leave much to be desired as great musical films. Despite the all-star cast, the opulent production design, the massive marketing campaign and even its origins as a blockbuster hit on Broadway, these “Wicked” movies turned out to be just OK. How so?

Both “Wickeds” do not have the all-encompassing charm of “The Sound of Music.” Neither the moving sense of wonder of “Cats,” the wit and elegance of “My Fair Lady,” the stunning transformation of Shakespeare to 1950s New York in “West Side Story” or the delicious decadence of “Chicago.” Why, I do not think both can stand at par with the recent filmed greats, “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables.”

Well, the first “Wicked” did score 10 Academy Award nominations and won two, for costumes and production design. Now I wonder if “Wicked 2” will get any. Of course, it must be taken into account that the best parts of “Wicked” were in Act 1, and were already presented in “Wicked 1,” including the soaring hit song Defying Gravity as the tremendous finale.

“Wicked 2” or “For Good” is merely a summing up which was stretched tight, tight, tight to inanity. Like, why were Glinda and Elphaba kept from meeting each other until over an hour into the film? Was that a stutter heard from Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard? Oh, and oh, Jonathan Bailey, who is such a pleasure to watch in his every frame in “Bridgerton” on Netflix, is just plain blah as Prince Fiyero, etc., etc.

But there are two things that keep “Wicked 2” from becoming a disaster. First is the competent performances by the leads, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda. Their friendship and sincere acceptance of their lot as would-be witches of opposite destinies is most touching. They sing too and bring to the fore the second-best thing about “Wicked 2,” the music of Stephen Schwartz.

With its spotty storytelling, “Wicked 2” needed great music to pull through. Schwartz provided that. He is no stranger to making hits in stage and movie musicals. “Wicked” has his Defying Gravity. He also did Godspell, Day by Day; Hunchback of Notre Dame, God Bless the Outcasts; Pippin, Corner of the Sky; Pocahontas, Colors of the Wind; Prince of Egypt, When You Believe, plus many others.

And “Wicked 2” has his For Good. This song languished for years, lost in the shadow of Defying Gravity. But “Wicked 2” brought it out and there is now no sweeter expression of love or gratitude in song than For Good. Knowing you has changed me for good. Hearing something like that really tugs at the heart.

Amidst all the fuss attending the arrival of “Wicked For Good,” I cannot help but think of “The Wizard of Oz.” This movie from 1939 may seem to be simple, too small-scale or plain old to the “Wicked fan.” It is all those things, but to show that it really is more, I would like to take note of just one scene. This one proves that being big and loud do get in the way of being meaningful.

The locale is a farm in Kansas and Judy Garland as Dorothy has just been rescued from a pigpen. Taking a break from her chores, she sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow to her little Yorkie Toto. Just that. No spectacular set. The scene is in black and white. No vocal athletics. Just Judy’s voice.

That scene made Judy Garland a legend and Over the Rainbow became a favorite song across generations. It is often hailed as the most beautiful song ever written.