Odds are, when Gregory Maguire wrote the novel Wicked in 1995, he didn’t suspect it would become the global phenomenon that it is today. Of course, being adapted into an award winning Broadway musical in 2003 might just have had something to do with that.  Or maybe it’s a spin on The Wizard of Oz. Whatever the case may be, the popular musical is about to hit the big screen and bring the story an even wider audience.

Wicked tells the story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the Wicked Witch of the West. As the misunderstood daughter of a Munchkinland magistrate, she grows up taunted by other children for her green skin and seemingly uncontrollable power, and spends most of her life isolated from everyone. When her sister heads off to University, Elphaba accompanies her, and is noticed by headmistress and witch Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) who takes her under her wing. As she starts to master her power, she befriends the most popular girl in school Glinda (Ariana Grande), and together they attempt to overturn a law that takes away the freedom of the animals of Oz.

Wicked is a very difficult movie to review. On one hand it has incredible acting, fun songs, great cinematography, and an interesting story. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande deserve Oscar nominations at the very least for their roles, and the film will more than likely get a Best Picture nomination due to Hollywood’s liking of good musicals. It could very well receive the most nominations this year. In any other instance that would be enough to give a film a five star review. Wicked isn’t a five star movie though, except to possibly the extremely dedicated fans of the musical. Trying to pinpoint the reasons why isn’t easy to do however. It’s more of a feeling at first, but after a bit of thought it becomes clearer why.

The best movies tell a complete story. Even if it’s only part of a series, or has a cliffhanger, each film leaves you feeling fulfilled. Wicked doesn’t do that. For some reason it was decided to turn a complete two hour and forty minute play, into a two hour and forty minute movie that only tells the first act of the play. It drags too. It feels this way especially for those who are not as knowledgeable of the source material.  Adding extra material to the story to allow for a longer, two part movie just feels like a cash grab instead of giving the audience what it wants. The worst part is that just as soon as the action picks up, they pull the plug and tell the audience it’s to be continued. This is not a way to tell a story. It’s like making a superhero movie that only tells you their origin, and stops just as soon as they start fighting crime or put on their costume for the first time.

Wicked isn’t a bad movie. It’s just hard to give it a sparkling review because in order to do that, you need to see the whole story. And to do that, you need to wait until next year to see part two.