When the spell loses all its magic

Illusion tricks demonstrate that magic often relies on a lack of information. second part of Wicked It aims to explain the magic that characterized The Wizard of Oz and turned it into an unforgettable film. Following in the footsteps of the first part (which expanded the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch), the new installment justifies the appearance and internal conflict of Dorothy's three companions: the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Lion. Consequently, Wicked: Part II It focuses on closing all the cracks that the original work opened up and which, as we discover, constituted the essence of its charm. Thus, Dorothy's unseen face (the only character who escapes the film's prevailing logic) stands as a bitter reminder of a magic that no longer seems to have a place in certain contemporary cinema, obsessed with total visibility and the representation of all things.

This fixation negatively affects the film, which, too preoccupied with tying up all the loose ends, forgets to establish itself as an independent work. The accumulation of plot twists, the grandiosity of the special effects, and the expressiveness of the musical numbers maintain the film at a high intensity that homogenizes all the events, even frustrating the climax. Although this narrative saturation is inherited from the Broadway musical, it ultimately stems from the decision to turn its second act into a standalone film. However, Wicked: Part II It captures the spirit of the times and reflects the current trend of prolonging the icons of the past in a perpetual present, indebted to serial narratives and the constant updating of social networks.