It is troublesome to speak concerning the halves of a two-part adaptation as really separate, however Depraved: For Good advantages from being a “half two” as a substitute of a real sequel. In the end, they inform one story. You possibly can’t actually understand how you are feeling concerning the challenge till you have seen the entire thing.
As profitable as Depraved was a yr in the past, it may solely provide viewers a suspended pleasure that will depend on For Good sticking the touchdown. However after only a few minutes, I spotted that feeling was working in Depraved: For Good‘s favor. The 2 motion pictures had been filmed collectively – the continuity of fashion, tone, and efficiency is seamless. When you loved what Depraved did with the fabric, For Good is strictly what you had been hoping for. All of the exhilaration that is been hanging behind your thoughts comes speeding again the second the primary musical quantity begins.
Thoughts you, that is the lesser of the 2 halves: It addresses not one of the first film’s flaws, whereas discovering a pair new ones so as to add to the combination. (Given I really feel a lot the identical approach about Acts I & II of the stage manufacturing, I wasn’t all that shocked.) Nevertheless it delivers on the emotional promise of Half One, basking in its glow fairly than lurking in its shadow.
As soon as Depraved: For Good Overcomes A Gradual Begin, It Would not Let Up
Depraved: For Good picks up years after the primary movie’s rousing finale, during which Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) sings “Defying Gravity” as she aligns herself in opposition to the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldbum), who she found was behind the rising persecution of animals. She exists now as public enemy #1, formally branded the Depraved Witch of the West by Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and her propaganda machine. Working out of a secret house within the forest, she disrupts the Wizard’s efforts wherever she will be able to, however is completely dropping the struggle of public opinion.
Glinda (Ariana Grande), in the meantime, has stepped into the position of Elphaba’s reverse, Glinda the Good. Her life is all about maintaining appearances, from feigning magical powers with the Wizard’s tech to asserting an engagement to Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), now a Captain main the duty power to seize the Depraved Witch. Her love for him is real, however despite the fact that he agrees to marry her, she can’t escape the sense that his coronary heart is not actually in it.
The 2 pals wrestle of their lives other than one another, and the film with them. Elphaba’s opening raid on a group constructing the Yellow Brick Street by way of compelled animal labor is visually fairly tough, bringing to thoughts proper off the bat the criticisms some had of the primary film’s aesthetic strategy. The socio-political state of affairs of Oz is not rendered with way more depth than within the stage musical, nor does the movie do a lot with the passage of time that may make re-immersion on this world particularly attention-grabbing. These first jiffy get issues off to a noticeably creaky begin.
The subsequent chapter within the story of Nessarose (Marissa Bode), now Governor of Munchkinland, and Boq (Ethan Slater), who she retains along with her by any means crucial, rescues issues a bit. Director Jon M. Chu movies the Tin Man sequence with the identical, nearly stunning depth because the Flying Monkey assault in Depraved: Half One, and it higher than something establishes the darker tone of For Good. However issues do not absolutely get again on monitor till Elphaba and Glinda meet once more in Oz, on the eve of Glinda’s wedding ceremony – after which it is off to the races.
Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande Shine As Depraved: For Good’s Emotional Middle
Depraved is de facto the story of the unlikely and life-changing friendship between these two ladies, and Chu’s adaptation succeeds due to how properly it faucets into this emotional present. As soon as this relationship retakes heart stage, the movie’s pull is virtually irresistible. Erivo and Grande get to deepen their stellar work from the primary film as their characters genuinely wound one another, much less out of malice than out of circumstance, and must grapple with how this adjustments their bond. By them, the stress of this political wrestle has precise heft.
Each get extra probabilities to shine in musical numbers as properly. Echoing her defining rendition of “The Wizard and I,” Erivo’s “No Good Deed” is the standout, and advantages from Chu’s most impactful staging. And “For Good,” their duet, is simply as superbly sung and loaded with feeling. It can, I feel, have lasting energy by itself phrases – however there’s one thing particular about experiencing it on display after having lived via Depraved‘s press tour. Over months of shared interviews, Grande and Erivo have checked out one another in the identical loving, teary-eyed approach, however that metatextual connection makes their efficiency that rather more touching.
Depraved: For Good does stumble at numerous factors. The much-touted new songs by returning songwriter Stephen Schwartz are superfluous, and there is a laughably regrettable determination close to the top involving Jeff Goldblum that solely avoids catastrophe by being very transient. However all the identical magic that powered the primary movie remains to be at work on this one. When you’re inclined to be swept away by the flowery costumes and units, engrossing group numbers (“March of the Witch Hunters” is one other winner), and infectious power, there’s nothing right here that may put an excessive amount of of a dent in your good time.
- Launch Date
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November 21, 2025
- Runtime
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137 Minutes
- Director
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Jon M. Chu
- Writers
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Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire
- Producers
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Marc Platt, David Stone