Let’s not bury the lede. Toto’s again!
“Depraved for Good,” the second of the two-part musical adaptation, brings the prequel in step with Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz,” right down to the Yellow Brick Street.
The “Depraved” sequel shares the primary movie’s wealthy storytelling, daring performances and visible opulence. It’s the very best sort of follow-up, one which retains the unique’s momentum and wraps the yarn in a satisfying model.
Oh, and Jeff Goldblum leans so arduous into his curious line readings that he threatens to steal the saga. That’s some fairly heavy lifting.
The story picks up the place 2024’s “Depraved” left us. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is now generally known as the Depraved Witch, and Glinda (Ariana Grande) has reluctantly joined forces with the farcical Wizard (Goldblum) and co.
Glinda’s loyalties are torn, however an organized marriage with the hunky Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), a captain within the Wizard’s military, suggests she’s keen to embrace the established order.
Simply do what you’re advised, and life shall be, nicely, good.
Besides she nonetheless feels a bond with Elphaba, and an try to fix the Wizard/Elphaba chasm is probably not sufficient to save lots of her expensive pal.
In the meantime, Oz has fallen right into a quasi-dictatorship. Each Munchkins and animals alike really feel the political squeeze regardless of the Wizard’s aw, shucks pose. The Left will gleefully learn parallels right into a sure Orange Man, however as a storytelling backdrop, it will get the job completed.
After which there’s Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), one other Oz energy participant who boasts skills that come and go because the story dictates.
Yeah, this can be a musical, so quite a lot of parts depart unanswered questions. Plus, Yeoh could also be an Oscar winner, however she lacks the snarl to promote her character’s cruelty.
“Depraved: For Good” overlaps, however by no means overwhelms, the basic “Wizard of Oz” saga. Which means we get glimpses of Dorothy and her trustworthy canine companion, however the “Depraved” story stays in sharp focus.
We’re additionally advised how the Scarecrow and the Tin Man got here to be, origin tales that flirt with physique horror tropes.
Goldblum’s Oz is so a lot better this time round, partly as a result of he isn’t requested to hold a musical variety of consequence. He’s additionally given a few of the movie’s greatest snigger traces – this story might be oppressively darkish, and any levity is welcome.
Director John Chu marshals every little thing a Hollywood studio can ship from a manufacturing design standpoint. It in some way doesn’t overwhelm us, a minor miracle, and the world in play is each inviting and odd. That’s preserving in step with the story’s dystopian underpinnings.
By no means thoughts the downtrodden! What about that Elphaba/Glinda frenemy bond?
Not one of the songs can match the majesty of “Defying Gravity,” and some are neither enchanting or obligatory. Nonetheless, the musical numbers in toto give the sequel its sense of pleasure, and Chu choreographs them for max influence.
As soon as once more, each Erivo and Grande flip in superlative work. Their voices are totally different however equally sturdy, and their on-screen bond is palpable.
That is in the end a narrative about friendship enduring by means of the very worst of instances. “Depraved: For Good” by no means lets us neglect that.
Nor ought to it.
Now, “Oz” purists won’t ever settle for how the “Depraved” saga contorts the “Oz” story that dazzled generations of film lovers. The massive third-act twist alone might give some the vapors.
Nonetheless, by gently weaving parts of the basic story into “Depraved: For Good” (and Toto, too!), the sequel satisfies.
HiT or Miss: “Depraved: For Good” delivers the larger-than-life finale we crave for the last word villain makeover.