Overview
If you’re a fan of musicals, this movie needs no introduction. Wicked has been a sensation on Broadway for years now, and has recently been adapted into a major motion picture. With a stellar cast including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jeff Goldblum, you can almost guarantee an awe-inspiring cinematic experience. And this movie is only part one — for those familiar with the musical, this first movie concludes with Elphaba’s victorious performance of ‘Defying Gravity.’
While this movie storms the box office, parents are rightly asking, is it safe for kids? That’s exactly what we’ll answer in this review, so keep reading to learn more!
For the uninitiated, here’s a quick recap of the plot. Wicked is a prequel to the household tale of Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road, telling the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West. Elphaba is a talented sorceress, but she was born with green skin. Mocked and disregarded all her life, she finally gets the chance to prove her abilities at school and hopes to meet the Wizard. Along the way, Elphaba makes unlikely friends and meets the Wizard, but she realizes that her hopes may not unfold as she expected.
Harmful Content ❗️
The movie is rated PG, so harmful content is fairly mild. There are some adult or mature themes surrounding discussions of good versus evil. The plot also includes an oppressive government (represented by The Wizard and Madame Morrible) that seeks to manipulate the citizens of Oz to keep their power. Younger audiences may not easily grasp some of this, but they could spark solid discussions with older kids.
There are some brief instances of substance use. At the beginning of the movie, the story implies that Elphaba’s mother got intoxicated, had an affair, and became pregnant with Elphaba. Additionally, there is a scene in which Elphaba drugs her classmates with poppy flowers, causing them all to fall asleep.
It’s also important to note that while the movie and the musical are generally PG-rated, the book that the story originates from (written by Gregory Maguire) is not kid-friendly by any means. There are tons of mature themes including sexual assault, beastiality, and more.
Language
There are no profanity or curse words in the movie. Elphaba, Glinda, and their classmates throw bullying and insults at each other, but they don’t use adult words.
Sex
Wicked the movie does not have any explicit sexual scenes or themes. When Elphaba’s mother’s affair is depicted at the beginning of the movie, the two characters are only seen dancing together and briefly embracing.
Besides this, there is some flirting and implications of romantic attraction. Glinda and Fiyero kiss once. Overall, sex is not prevalent or a major focus of the plot.
Violence
There are some intense or violent scenes. Particularly towards the end when the Wizard and Madame Morrible command the flying monkeys to go after Elphaba. There are a couple of jump scares, but nothing overly gory or violent.
Positive Value 💫
On the surface, Wicked is a classic story about the forces of good and evil and the power of unlikely friendships — all with a musical set list that will inspire any audience. But these themes can start healthy conversations with kids that encourage critical and abstract thinking.
For example, the theme surrounding good and evil highlights that this is not as black-and-white as we’d like to think. The story labels Elphaba as wicked, but it shows that she tries to do what she feels is morally right, despite the pressure to follow the crowd or stay silent. The Wizard is supposed to be a good and respectable authority figure, but the story reveals him as a fraud and complicit in mistreating the minority citizens of Oz. This can spark interesting discussion and help kids think critically about how one’s words match (or contradict) their actions.
So, should my kid watch it?
We recommend this movie for ages 11 and up! Be sure to consider your family’s values and child’s maturity first. You know your child best and we hope this review helped shed some light on this popular movie.
