Wicked – For Good (2025), Cynthia Erivo, Universal Pictures
The second part of Wicked, the hit Broadway musical turned movie, directed by Jon M Chu, has a trailer for the second instalment.
Starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey and Peter Dinklage, Wicked – For Good is about Elphaba (Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda (Grande), the Good Witch of the North.
It’s true, I still haven’t seen Wicked, on film or stage. One day I might. However, right now, my aversion to musicals keeps me enjoying the works of my favourites, Bailey, Erivo, and Grande via other ‘non-musical movie’ avenues.
As always, this new film makes me happy for the super fans, especially since I’ve only heard great things about the first instalment.
The cast of Wicked, director Jon M. Chu’s latest musical/fantasy/romance film is great. And it includes Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.
Fans of this long-standing and beloved stage musical will surely be delighted after watching this trailer.
As strong as my aversion to musicals is, this iteration just has way too much going for it for me to look the other way.
From the very talented cast to the costumes, the story of a beautiful friendship, incredible singing voices, triumph over a seemingly strong but actually weak monster and stunning special effects – to name just the most obvious things.
Maybe I’ve finally found another musical film I like, one to add to a list that currently only features The Greatest Showman (2017) Here’s to hoping.
Are you also drawn to Wicked?? I imagine the answer is yes; even more so if you’ve seen the live theatre production.
Keala Settle, Bowen Yang, Adam James, Terence Hughes, Aaron Teoh Guan Ti, Peter Dinklage, Grecia De la Paz, Alfredo Tavares and Bronwyn James also star.
Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special (2020), Mariah Carey, Apple TV+
Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special has Christmas music, seasonal cheer and beautiful decorations. Yet, the main reason it left me disappointed is, I’d been mistakenly expecting a party. A get up and dance because the beat is irresistible kind of party.
It may well be that I simply wasn’t fully paying attention to the trailer. Or, maybe I can blame the presence of Snoop Dogg and Jermaine Dupri (two of hip/hop’s greatest), for my confusion about the special. I’m sure that seeing Dupri and Snoop simply took me back to a time when they ruled the charts with well-produced party music. I digress.
Visually speaking, the production quality of Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special is beautiful. I enjoyed the costumes and Christmas-rich surroundings. I even appreciated the one or two moments when Carey’s lesser-known but anecdotally ‘great sense of humour’ surfaced, but for a second.
Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special (2020), Ariana Grande, Apple TV+
Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special is supposed to be a universally heartwarming story designed to bring us all together in 2020. Only, the story element is the ‘barely there’ kind. Meaning, don’t go expecting anything too sophisticated, because what you’ll get feels more like a bunch of Christmas themed music videos, many of which you’ll enjoy if you’re into Christmas and or Carey.
As for what’s in between the music, you’re unlikely to miss it if it weren’t there. That is except Tiffany Haddish’s spirited narration and Heidi Klum’s perfectly delivered comedy line: ‘Gone out? Out of the house? I don’t understand.’
Upon a second viewing of the special, I gladly skipped to my favourite four/five Christmas songs, which of course includes Carey’s super famous classic All I want for Christmas is you.
A few other things I enjoyed include Carey’s super glamorous appearance in the gold sequin dress and the unexpected animation based on themes that speak to how many of us may approach the festive season in 2020. Then there’s the performance that included Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson. It would have been great if they performed in more than one song. But, I’ve decided to stop fantasising about what Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special could have been and instead keep on skipping to my favourite moments within it.
Give directors Roman Coppola and Hamish Hamilton’s special a chance if you’re curious. Also do so if you’re a Carey fan, enjoy Christmassy surroundings/classic Christmas songs you can sing along to. You may just love it even though I didn’t completely.
Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special is a Holiday special that promises music, dancing and animation. All of which is driven by a universally heartwarming story to bring us all together in 2020.
Directed by Roman Coppola and Hamish Hamilton; Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special also stars, to name just a few, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Tiffany Haddish, Ariana Grande and Jermain Dupri.
I’ve personally been in the Christmas spirit for a while now, and this film right here is going to send me right over the edge. And I’m not mad about it.
As a Carey, Snoop, Haddish, Grande, Dupri and Hudson fan, I can’t wait to experience the seasonal spectacle, humour and oh, so beautiful voices.
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