Wicked

The wickedest thing about Wicked is that just when the fairy-tale fantasy reaches its apex, “to be continued” is slapped on the screen and the credits roll.

That tactic reveals the unfavorable balance between commercial and creative ambitions behind this adaptation of the acclaimed Broadway musical. This stylish yet lumbering first installment is intended only as an IP starting point, with a prologue that will presumably be paid off down the road.

For the uninitiated, it’s a Wizard of Oz spinoff — evidently while Dorothy and the gang (not pictured) are wandering the yellow-brick road, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes — as well as a witch origin story and a coming-of-age tale of empowerment and acceptance.

This reimagining from director Jon Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), based both on the play and a book inspired by it, creates an entirely new world away from the stage — a strategy that yields some dazzling visuals but fails to expand the narrative scope and texture in meaningful ways.

For Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), it’s not easy being green. Despite being ostracized for her unusual appearance, she befriends popular girl Glinda (Ariana Grande) as they attend a university for aspiring magicians in the Land of Oz, under the wise tutelage of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).

Elphaba aspires to use her special powers to inspire positive change by someday visiting Emerald City and meeting the mysterious Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) who rules over their kingdom. However, it later becomes apparent that her fate is different than she imagined, and her kinship with Glinda is destined to be torn apart.

Erivo’s magnetic performance is a terrific showcase for her diverse talents, although some of the other performers seem miscast. Goldblum, in particular, is quirky and amusing but seems to be acting in a different movie.

Fortunately, there’s some impressive world-building and a seamless array of visual effects. First-rate staging and choreography for the production numbers enable the songs to shine. Highlights include stirring renditions of fan favorites “Popular” and “Defying Gravity.”

However, the film doesn’t have the same rhythm or light touch when the music isn’t playing. The labored screenplay is hardly subtle in its messaging about embracing your differences and following your dreams.

Stretching out the material tends to accentuate the rather conventional nature of the underlying story. And by the time the deeper subtext is brought to the forefront, Wicked draws the curtains.

Rated PG, 161 minutes.