‘Glicked’ Mania: ‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II’ unite for an entertaining spectacle

While it won’t quite hit the box office heights of “Barbenheimer,” the one-two punch of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” showcases the allure and fun of big screen moviegoing.

Both movies faced uphill challenges.

“Wicked” is an expensive adaptation of the first half of a beloved Broadway show. It runs longer than the duration of the entire source material. It throws a relatively untested pop star into a must-deliver role.

“Gladiator II” is an expensive sequel to a 24-year-old, Best Picture-winning movie that ends on a definitive note. The star of the original couldn’t return, and neither could its memorable villain.

For the most part, both movies defy the odds. Or gravity or whatever.

“Wicked,” directed by Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “In the Heights”), has the benefit of the show’s most memorable songs, including “Defying Gravity.” The movie builds to that song (which ends Act 1 of the stage musical) with vibrant energy, anchored by the film’s two showcase performances from Tony winner Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba (future Wicked Witch of the West) and pop star Ariana Grande as Galinda (future Glinda the Good Witch).

The decision to cut the story in half proves effective, as Chu allows the rivalry and friendship between Elphaba and Galinda to ebb and flow, all while aligning the broader storyline involving the mysterious Wizard (Jeff Goldblum, reliably delightful) and his deceptive/potentially fascist reign over the people and creatures of Oz.

The music is terrific, obviously, helped along by the ridiculously talented leads. Erivo handles the command and vulnerability of Elphaba with equal care, and Grande stands out as a true comedic force while still hitting all the high notes with precision. Audiences who weren’t fans of Grande’s music career (i.e. this writer) will be pushing for an Oscar nomination alongside her biggest fans.

While there may be no such thing as “too much ‘Wicked,’” the movie probably could use a 15-minute trimming just for the sake of pacing. Still, the detailed set design dazzles, offsetting the occasional overuse of CGI in the final act of the film. As far as adaptations of beloved stage musicals go, “Wicked” sits comfortably near the top of the pile.

Ridley Scott, the prolific 86-year-old director, proves he still has a complete handle on large scale action with “Gladiator II,” a mostly unnecessary sequel that still delivers plenty of entertaining moments, especially in the bloody, bone-crunching battles of the Colosseum.

Paul Mescal (excellent in the still criminally underseen “Aftersun”) leads the film as Lucius, a warrior-turned-turned-slave-turned-gladiator forced to fight at the whim of the ruthless twin rulers of Rome. Lucius, of course, has familial ties to key characters from the first film, while Pedro Pascal plays a Roman general who is responsible for the death of Lucius’ wife. But wait! Pascal’s character is also not what first appears.

The two men are engaging foils even as the movie retreads many of the beats of the first “Gladiator.” Luckily, the action in the Colosseum takes advantage of 24 years of technological advancements, as Scott stages multiple memorable set pieces.

The real special effect of the movie, however, is Denzel Washington, who opens the film as a reserved supporting player before taking control of the film’s second half. Washington goes full throttle with a bombastic performance on the level of his “Training Day” villainy. As good as Mescal is as the stoic lead gladiator, Washington commands the screen to the point where it derails the main storyline (albeit entertainingly).

“Gladiator II” won’t be a Best Picture winner like its predecessor, but for a sequel that has little reason to exist, Scott should be commended for executing such a popcorn-worthy spectacle.

•••

Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.

    This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Paul Mescal, lefty, and Pedro Pascal in a scene from "Gladiator II."
  

    This combination of images shows promotional art for "Gladiator II," left, and "Wicked."