What’s not to like about the movie “Wicked”?

Ariana Grande is great as Galinda.

Cynthia Erivo is terrific as Elphaba.

Jonathan Bailey is a knock-out as Flyero.

Michelle Yeoh is intriguing as Madame Morrible.

Jeff Goldblum is well, Jeff Goldblum, and that’s OK, as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

And then there’s “that” song, “Defying Gravity,” which is really the whole shebang. Oh, and by the way, the Stephen Schwartz score for “Wicked,” which received three Tony Awards, has other fun Broadway pastiche style show tunes.

Among the 13 or so boffo production numbers in “Wicked” the movie are “Dancing Through Life,” where Jonathan Bailey as Flyero and Ariana Grande as Galinda prance and dance and sing their hearts out; “Popular,” for which Ariana Grande as Galinda cavorts, cajoles and sings in a most delightful way, and “Sentimental Man,” with Jeff Goldblum bringing his usual aplomb to The Wizard.

What’s not to like about the movie, “Wicked”?

The cinematography by Alice Brooks (“tick, tick ... BOOM!,” 2022; “In The Heights,” 2021) is snappy.

The editing by Myron Kerstein (“tick, tick ... BOOM!,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” 2018) is brilliant.

The production design by Nathan Crowley (Oscar nominee, production design, “Tenet,” 2021; “First Man,” 2019; “Dunkirk,” 2018, and “Interstellar,” 2015; art direction, “The Dark Knight,” 2009; and “The Prestige,” 2007) is beyond magnificent.

The costume design by Paul Tazewell (Oscar nominee, costume design, “West Side Story,” 2022) is fabulous (especially Ariana Grande’s Galinda frocks).

Director Jon M. Chu (director, “Crazy Rich Asians,” “In The Heights”) juggles songs, characters and plot lines masterfully, working from a screenplay by Winnie Holzman (book, “Wicked” musical) and Dana Fox (screenplay, “Cruella” 2021) based on the novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” (1995) by Gregory Maguire from characters created by L. Frank Baum (14 “Oz” books).

Ariana Grande as Galinda invokes a Marcia Brady (“The Brady Bunch”) toss of her hair, underscores her “Mean Girls” insincerity so sincerely and moves so quickly it’s as if the camera was speeded up.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba evokes genuine concern and sympathy with a downcast, somber and tragic demeanor.

Grande and Erivo share several emotional scenes.

Look for double-figure Oscar nominations for “Wicked,” including best picture.

What’s not to like about the movie “Wicked”?

I am not quite sure. I liked the movie “Wicked.” I wanted to love it.

Maybe it’s because I saw “The Wizard of Oz” (1939), the original movie that inspired all this, one too many times.

Maybe it’s because I am not a big fan of the mash-up genre of movies.

Think “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” (2012).

Maybe it’s because I am not a fan of fan-based fiction. That’s where fans write unauthorized versions based on an existing work of fiction.

Gregory Maguire has made a cottage industry of fan-based fiction for “The Wizard of Oz.” Maguire’s “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” (1995) was the inspiration for “Wicked” the musical. Maguire’s book is the first in his “The Wicked Years” series, which includes “Son of a Witch” (2005), “A Lion Among Men” (2008) and “Out of Oz” (2011).

What’s not to like about the movie “Wicked”?

Maybe it’s because the movie is “Wicked: Part 1,” with Part 2 set for release in November 2025.

The poster for “Wicked” depicts Galinda (Ariana Grande) reaching out her left arm and fingers to the right arm and fingers of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo). On IMDb, if you glide the computer mouse over each character, they move slightly and glow. The image is apparently a nod to “The Creation of Man” that Michelangelo painted on the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling (circa 1508-1512), symbolizing the Bible’s Book of Genesis creation narrative in which God gives life to Adam, the first man.

That’s how seriously the “Wicked” film-makers apparently take themselves.

What’s not to like about the movie “Wicked”?

Ultimately, what’s not to like about the movie, “Wicked,” is that the movie is not about “Defying Gravity.”

Until that final scene in the movie, when Elphaba soars visually and vocally in the song, “Defying Gravity,” the movie “Wicked” is all about gravity, the gravity of the origin of Elphaba and Galnda and the gravity about their relationship, the gravity of a whole other interpretation of the Wizard of Oz (Hint: He’s way more sinister than silly Professor Marvel), the insertion of a Hogwarts-like Shiz University, and other detours to the Emerald City.

The movie “Wicked” strives for gravitas rather than “Defying Gravity.”

“Wicked” will be enjoyed by fans of the book, the musical, and fans of Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jeff Goldblum.

As for fans of the original “The Wizard of Oz,” I am not so sure. “We’re not in Kansas anymore,” that’s for sure.

As for me, I’d rather “follow the Yellow Brick Road.”

“Wicked: Part 1,” MPAA rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. Parents urged to give “parental guidance.” May contain some material parents might not like for their young children.) for some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material; Genre: Fantasy, Musical, Romance. Run time: 2 hours, 40 minutes. Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Wicked” was filmed in Sky Studios, England, from December 2022 (interrupted in July 2023 by the SAG-AFTRA strike) through January 2024. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the roles of Elphaba and Galinda, respectively, on Broadway, have cameos for the song, “One Short Day” in the Emerald City Players’ production number, “Wiz-O-Mania.” The film’s title is in a font similar to that of “The Wizard of Oz” movie opening titles. The film ends with a title card “To Be Continued.”

At The Movies: “Wicked” was seen in the 3D format at AMC Center Valley 16. Yet again, the 3D effect rendered the image on the screen too dark.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Weekend Box Office, Dec. 13-15: “Moana 2” made it a three-peat, continuing at No. 1 three weeks in a row with $26.6 million in 4,000 theaters, $33.5 million, three weeks.

2. “Wicked” stayed in place, $22.5 million in 3,689 theaters, $359 million, four weeks. 3. “Kraven the Hunter,” latest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, $11 million in 3,211, opening; 4. “Gladiator II” dropped one place, $7.8 million in 3,224 theaters, $145.9 million, four weeks. 5. “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” a pre-“LOTR” animated feature,” $4.6 million in 2,602 theaters, opening. 6. “Red One” dropped one place with $4.4 million in 3,003 theaters, $92.6 million, five weeks. 7. “Pushpa: The Rule - Part 2,” $3.7 million in 631 theaters, $13 million, two weeks. 8. “Interstellar,” re-release, $3.3 million in 321 theaters, $11.7 million, two weeks. 9. “Interstella 5555: The Story of the Secret Star System,” an anime music film by Daft Punk, $2.3 million in 641 theaters, opening. 10. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” stayed in place, $1.3 million in 1,519 theaters, $36.6 million, six weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Dec. 15 is subject to change.

Unreel, Dec. 20:

“Mufasa: The Lion King,” PG: Barry Jenkins directs the voice talents of Seth Rogen, Kelvin Harrison Jr; Aaron Pierre, Thandiwe Newton, Mads Mikkelsen, Donald Glover, Keith David, Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter and the computer animation in the Adventure film. Mufasa, a lost cub, is mentored by Taka the lion.

“Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” PG: Jeff Fowler directs the voice talents of Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, James Marsden, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Ben Schwartz, and the animation and the real-life Jim Carrey (Dr. Robotnik) in the live-action animation comedy. Team Sonic unites again.

Movie opening information from Internet Movie Database as of Dec. 15 is subject to change.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes