3 Things Parents Should Know about ‘Wicked’

1. It's the Backstory to the Wizard of Oz

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The film is an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name and tells the backstory of the two witches in the classic story The Wizard of Oz -- the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) and the Good Witch (Galinda). In the film, they're mirror opposites who become close friends.  

The film's opening scenes, in fact, are essentially a continuation of the classic story, with villagers in the land of Oz celebrating the Wicked Witch's death as they sing and dance to a toe-tapping tune, No One Mourns the Wicked. (We briefly see, from behind, Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Lion, on the yellow brick road.)

"Yes, the Wicked Witch of the West is dead," the Good Witch, Galinda, announces to shouts of joy.

But before Galinda can fly back to her peaceful home, a villager asks, "Is it true that you were her friend?"

Galinda acknowledges they were, indeed, companions at school.

In Wicked, we embark on another journey to the Wizard (who was, if you forgot, a man behind a curtain). Along the way, we uncover the origins of the yellow brick road, the mysterious winged monkeys, and the untold backstory of Oz's other strange characters.

The film is Part 1 in a two-part series. (When the film ends, we read the words "to be continued" on the screen.)

Photo Credit: ©Universal Pictures/Wicked

2. It's an Entertaining Tale with a Theological Twist

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The film's music is captivating, the costumes dazzling, and the sets breathtaking. But the plot's profound theme overshadows all the glitter and spectacle. 

"Why does wickedness happen?" a young child asks Galinda in the movie's opening moments.

"That's a good question -- one many people find confustifying," Galinda responds. "Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?"

Galinda explains: the Wicked Witch had a mother and a father, just like the rest of us. She had a sibling. She had a childhood.

Wicked implies Elphaba turned evil because of her upbringing. Your heart aches, and your stomach churns as you watch a young Elphaba endure relentless bullying. Kids laugh at her. Classmates taunt her. Even a few of the university's leaders look down on her. ("We will find someplace to hide you. I mean house you," one of them tells her.) It isn't until Madame Morrible takes Elphaba under her wings that she truly begins to see purpose in her life. Even then, though, the bullying by others continues.

The answer to the young child's question is "all of the above." Are people born wicked? Yes. (Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23, Psalm 14:1-3.) Is wickedness thrust upon people? Yes, but -- keep in mind -- they're already wicked. Bullying can feed into bitterness, anger, and despair, turning individuals into vengeful creatures. Still, the Bible makes clear: No one is innocent. Our hearts, at birth, are wicked.

Photo Credit: ©Universal Pictures/Wicked

3. It's All about Friendship

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Grande is hilariously spectacular as Galinda, a self-absorbed diva whose sole goal in life is to be beautiful, popular, and the center of attention. ("Something is very wrong -- I didn't get my way," she tells her servants during one scene when she is rejected by a university leader.)

Galinda's goal is to transform Elphaba into a popular student with style and beauty. 

But, in a plot twist, it is Elphaba who ultimately transforms Galinda. The latter begins to shed her shallow ambitions -- standing up for the outcast and seeing the worth in others. 

The film ends with Elphaba flying away on a broom as Galinda sings, "I hope you're happy." It's a strange sequence for those of us who know the end of the story, but, to be fair, we haven't yet seen Elphaba's true evil.

Wicked is a fun musical with only a few speed bumps for families. It's implied that Elphaba is the result of an adulterous affair between her mother and a man who was not her husband. (We see the two dancing and drinking before the scene cuts away.) The imagery, too, is scarier than that of the classic 1939 film, with the winged monkeys appearing more menacing and lifelike.

Be warned: It's a film that spans two hours and 40 minutes. 

I left the theater ready for the sequel. I'm sure others will feel the same way.

Rated PG for some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.  

Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Family-friendly rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Discussion questions: What is the origin of evil? In what ways can bullying shape or alter a person's character and behavior? How do you respond when you encounter someone who is ostracized or excluded? How would Jesus respond?

Photo Credit: ©Universal Pictures/Wicked