Sujey Sayre

Wicked is perfectly paced, with no slow moments. The practical scenes, with minor CHI enhancements, look stunning. The vocal performances are phenomenal. However, Ariana Grande occasionally appears to lose focus, awkwardly staring off-camera. Jonathan Bailey is a charming standout, and "Defying Gravity" leaves you feeling ready to conquer the world.

The movie struggled with pacing, especially in the beginning, where any non-action scenes were slow to build. In general, the film moved slowly, missing opportunities for impactful reaction shots that could have enhanced the story. By the end, the characters felt like flanderized versions of themselves. However, Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal delivered excellent performances. The CGI was Scorpion King level bad.