***JADED GAY REVIEW INCOMING*** I was completely turned off from seeing Wicked, due to the in-your-face marketing blitz and the unhinged press tour. While I've enjoyed Cynthia Erivo in movies before, I never knew anything about her and didn't realize she was such a wacko. And I've never been impressed with Ariana Grande's pop music...I couldn't name one song of hers if you held a gun to my head.
Several people at work were gushing about the movie and were going back for repeat viewings. I was enjoying telling them that I saw the broadway show with Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel 20 years ago and hearing their gasps of jealousy.
I was all set to wait for my local library to get the DVD and watch it on TV, but I had a soon-to-expire free large birthday popcorn to redeem at AMC, and so I had to go see SOMETHING. So I went.
I honestly couldn't remember too much from the broadway musical other than the basic plot and that it had a happy ending (unlike the novel), which was a change that I had really enjoyed. And I knew this film was Part 1 of 2, so that it would end with the Act 1 break of 'Defying Gravity'.
Overall: It was fine. I was entertained and I managed to stay awake through the entire two hours and 40 minutes (which is really saying something, since nowadays I tend to get sleepy during movies). It reminded me of Marvel movies: a giant spectacle that (for me) is just too much and hurts my eyes. I did not see the big attraction and why people were responding with such emotion and exuberance. I did not shed any tears.
I was very impressed with Ariana Grande. She was terrific! She is a great actress and can really sing (although when she hits those high notes, I can't understand what words she is singing). She had just enough of a nod to KC, while still making the part her own. Cynthia Erivo was good too. (Does she always have a crooked mouth while singing, or was that a choice for this character?)
The movie kept reminding me of other movies: Harry Potter, Legally Blonde, Willy Wonka...and wasn't that whole scene at the school dance basically lifted from Can't Buy Me Love?!
What I enjoyed MOST about the movie was getting to talk about it with some friends, a gay couple who visited this past week. They are theater people and completely obsessed with the movie, so we had a lengthy discussion about it over dinner. They loved every single thing about it and couldn't understand why I wasn't similarly obsessed. It reminded me of the good ol' days, when I used to have conversations with gay men about Madonna, and it was never ever enough for you to say, "she's OK, I like a few of her songs"; no, no--you had to WORSHIP HER. I used to always get so angry and frustrated by this, but now I'm experiencing a kind of nostalgia for that time. Imagine: THAT used to be one of my biggest problems with the gay community! NOW, bizarrely, my biggest argument with gay men is that a woman can not be a gay man. [I was recently reported for 'hate speech' and received a stern warning in a gay reddit community when I stated that very fact.] So I am grateful for Wicked for giving me something frivolous to talk about and be obstinate about instead of trying to remind gay people that human beings cannot change sex and that trans is very very very anti-gay.
Gary! This is content gold for that podcast we can't stop starting. I love that you were so jaded and cranky. I also fall asleep to every movie anymore and that I didn't was a testimony to its success. Also I never saw wicked on broadway but now I HAVE TO!!!!! I haven't felt excited about a movie since... ugh I can't think of anything except Thelma and Louise lmao. Boys on the Side. Which makes me wonder what other movies REQUIRED that I immediately purchase its soundtrack: The Wiz. Grease. Fame. 9 to 5. The Wall. Clockwork Orange. Sid and Nancy. Rocky Horror. Dead Man Walking. Cold Mountain. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. Pulp Fiction. Amadeus. Wild at Heart. The Big Easy. Saturday Night Fever. Angel Heart. Purple Rain. Pretty in Pink. What am I forgetting? Magnolia. THAT'S the feeling I had after Wicked and it was so REFRESHING. It's like defying gravity! Weeeeee!!!!!!
Hee hee! That is quite a list! Side note: I just discovered Tubi, which has SO MANY 80's movies! I recently watched one my friend told me of, about high schoolers running away to NY to enter a dance contest. Very cheesy yet very earnest, and directed by...Sidney Poitier?!? It's called Fast Forward, check it out! https://youtu.be/Ax5S0PInHhE?si=oOjm0iN_osrl-sjw
I'm glad you enjoyed Wicked and it gave you the feelz! Now you have an event to look forward to when Part 2 comes out!
(Oh, one more thing I couldn't understand about Wicked that my friends cleared up: I asked how Bowen Yang received a top tier credit for such a tiny and unimportant role. Apparently, he is besties with Ariana and she pushed for him!)
I'll keep reading you no matter what. You make me laugh and I love your style. I turn a little green—with envy, not pukiness—at your ability to turn a pithy phrase—a whole pithy commentary, actually. Like this one. Even in your newly slimmed-down drama-less life you still manage to bring flair and fun to my Substack reads. So starve away, politically speaking. And know I'm actually in a very similar boat which I will be sharing about tomorrow, alas, not nearly with as much pizazz as you've managed here. Such is the reality of your talent to entertain. Thank you—and Keep going! (got that gold advice from a wise, 13-year-old crone 😘).
Ben Shapiro really liked Wicked. You should check out his review, if you're allowed to do so during your media fast. I don't think you have to do political posts - your writing about life in general is what I'm here for. I'm also thrilled your home life is going well.
Ahhhh thank you--Phew! Relieved you're here for whatever I post. And you read my mind. I keep seeing Ben's YouTube thumbnail and have been v curious his review. You bridged the divide for me. 🥰
My viewing of Wicked was just the opposite. I went to see Wicked with my daughter having no idea what to expect or having seen any "pre-media". Like you, Ioved it! Then I started hearing and reading about all of the extremely "woke" stuff. Which of course, would have you assume the film was fully woke. Definitely glad I went before, I don't think any amount of FOMO would've have gotten me to go, LOL🤣
***JADED GAY REVIEW INCOMING*** I was completely turned off from seeing Wicked, due to the in-your-face marketing blitz and the unhinged press tour. While I've enjoyed Cynthia Erivo in movies before, I never knew anything about her and didn't realize she was such a wacko. And I've never been impressed with Ariana Grande's pop music...I couldn't name one song of hers if you held a gun to my head.
Several people at work were gushing about the movie and were going back for repeat viewings. I was enjoying telling them that I saw the broadway show with Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel 20 years ago and hearing their gasps of jealousy.
I was all set to wait for my local library to get the DVD and watch it on TV, but I had a soon-to-expire free large birthday popcorn to redeem at AMC, and so I had to go see SOMETHING. So I went.
I honestly couldn't remember too much from the broadway musical other than the basic plot and that it had a happy ending (unlike the novel), which was a change that I had really enjoyed. And I knew this film was Part 1 of 2, so that it would end with the Act 1 break of 'Defying Gravity'.
Overall: It was fine. I was entertained and I managed to stay awake through the entire two hours and 40 minutes (which is really saying something, since nowadays I tend to get sleepy during movies). It reminded me of Marvel movies: a giant spectacle that (for me) is just too much and hurts my eyes. I did not see the big attraction and why people were responding with such emotion and exuberance. I did not shed any tears.
I was very impressed with Ariana Grande. She was terrific! She is a great actress and can really sing (although when she hits those high notes, I can't understand what words she is singing). She had just enough of a nod to KC, while still making the part her own. Cynthia Erivo was good too. (Does she always have a crooked mouth while singing, or was that a choice for this character?)
The movie kept reminding me of other movies: Harry Potter, Legally Blonde, Willy Wonka...and wasn't that whole scene at the school dance basically lifted from Can't Buy Me Love?!
What I enjoyed MOST about the movie was getting to talk about it with some friends, a gay couple who visited this past week. They are theater people and completely obsessed with the movie, so we had a lengthy discussion about it over dinner. They loved every single thing about it and couldn't understand why I wasn't similarly obsessed. It reminded me of the good ol' days, when I used to have conversations with gay men about Madonna, and it was never ever enough for you to say, "she's OK, I like a few of her songs"; no, no--you had to WORSHIP HER. I used to always get so angry and frustrated by this, but now I'm experiencing a kind of nostalgia for that time. Imagine: THAT used to be one of my biggest problems with the gay community! NOW, bizarrely, my biggest argument with gay men is that a woman can not be a gay man. [I was recently reported for 'hate speech' and received a stern warning in a gay reddit community when I stated that very fact.] So I am grateful for Wicked for giving me something frivolous to talk about and be obstinate about instead of trying to remind gay people that human beings cannot change sex and that trans is very very very anti-gay.
Gary! This is content gold for that podcast we can't stop starting. I love that you were so jaded and cranky. I also fall asleep to every movie anymore and that I didn't was a testimony to its success. Also I never saw wicked on broadway but now I HAVE TO!!!!! I haven't felt excited about a movie since... ugh I can't think of anything except Thelma and Louise lmao. Boys on the Side. Which makes me wonder what other movies REQUIRED that I immediately purchase its soundtrack: The Wiz. Grease. Fame. 9 to 5. The Wall. Clockwork Orange. Sid and Nancy. Rocky Horror. Dead Man Walking. Cold Mountain. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. Pulp Fiction. Amadeus. Wild at Heart. The Big Easy. Saturday Night Fever. Angel Heart. Purple Rain. Pretty in Pink. What am I forgetting? Magnolia. THAT'S the feeling I had after Wicked and it was so REFRESHING. It's like defying gravity! Weeeeee!!!!!!
Hee hee! That is quite a list! Side note: I just discovered Tubi, which has SO MANY 80's movies! I recently watched one my friend told me of, about high schoolers running away to NY to enter a dance contest. Very cheesy yet very earnest, and directed by...Sidney Poitier?!? It's called Fast Forward, check it out! https://youtu.be/Ax5S0PInHhE?si=oOjm0iN_osrl-sjw
I'm glad you enjoyed Wicked and it gave you the feelz! Now you have an event to look forward to when Part 2 comes out!
(Oh, one more thing I couldn't understand about Wicked that my friends cleared up: I asked how Bowen Yang received a top tier credit for such a tiny and unimportant role. Apparently, he is besties with Ariana and she pushed for him!)
I, too, am a 13 year-old girl trapped in the body of a menopausal crone. #winning 🏆
Yay!!
It’s a lesson in making up your own mind after examining the evidence!
Wended my way through much sturm and drang over “Poor Things.” Loved it!
This line had me laughing so hard:
“because I am a 13 year-old girl trapped in the body of a menopausal crone.”
😂😂😂😂🤣
Thank you! And yes! I remember liking that movie too and I hate mark ruffalo 😂
Re Wicked Cam disagrees 😬😆
https://open.substack.com/pub/taragiancaspro/p/122-the-week-in-me?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=l72y0
That boy has a bright future 😂
I'll keep reading you no matter what. You make me laugh and I love your style. I turn a little green—with envy, not pukiness—at your ability to turn a pithy phrase—a whole pithy commentary, actually. Like this one. Even in your newly slimmed-down drama-less life you still manage to bring flair and fun to my Substack reads. So starve away, politically speaking. And know I'm actually in a very similar boat which I will be sharing about tomorrow, alas, not nearly with as much pizazz as you've managed here. Such is the reality of your talent to entertain. Thank you—and Keep going! (got that gold advice from a wise, 13-year-old crone 😘).
Literally love you Leah! Murmuring Awww out loud in the car with the fam as I read this. Over and over. 🥰🥰🥰
❤️😘🥰
I was interested, then the non stop press & ads everywhere turned me off, now I’m a bit open to it again…
Ben Shapiro really liked Wicked. You should check out his review, if you're allowed to do so during your media fast. I don't think you have to do political posts - your writing about life in general is what I'm here for. I'm also thrilled your home life is going well.
Ahhhh thank you--Phew! Relieved you're here for whatever I post. And you read my mind. I keep seeing Ben's YouTube thumbnail and have been v curious his review. You bridged the divide for me. 🥰
My viewing of Wicked was just the opposite. I went to see Wicked with my daughter having no idea what to expect or having seen any "pre-media". Like you, Ioved it! Then I started hearing and reading about all of the extremely "woke" stuff. Which of course, would have you assume the film was fully woke. Definitely glad I went before, I don't think any amount of FOMO would've have gotten me to go, LOL🤣
Interesting!
One more positive review! I think I might see it!
Blame me if you hate it! But go.