Matt Reviews: Wicked: For Good with Andrew Chappelle

Matt is joined by Broadway actor and podcast host Andrew Chappelle for a theater-nerdy breakdown of the hotly anticipated Wicked: For Good. Together, they dig into how Part Two stacks up against Part One, what the film gets right (and very right), and where it stumbles on its way down the Yellow Brick Road. From pacing to performances to the Wizard of Oz tie-ins, this episode explores why Wicked remains one of the most passionately debated properties in modern musical theater.

Resources & Links

Broadway Breakdown Discord

Broadway Breakdown Substack

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Oz… Again Matt and Andrew introduce the episode and their shared history with the Wicked universe.

08:45 – Revisiting Part One & the Big Pacing Debate Matt’s qualms with Part One resurface and why movie musicals today struggle with airflow and pacing. Andrew counters with why he loves the “epic fantasy” pacing of the films.

10:40 – Comparing Film vs. Stage Energy Andrew describes seeing Wicked live again and realizing how fast the Broadway version moves — and how intentionally the films do not.

14:20 – No Good Deed Andrew declares No Good Deed the film’s peak — a visceral, intermission-style gut punch. Matt shares his own favorite moments, especially Ariana Grande’s performance.

22:40 – Can Art Be Too Safe? A conversation about modern creative fear, audience reactions, and why art that tries not to offend often loses its punch.

25:20 – The Wizard of Oz Problem (or Feature?) The backlash to Act Two’s deeper Wizard of Oz connections — and why fans remain divided.

56:50 – New Songs: Going for the Oscar Original songs in movie musicals: the pressure, the pitfalls, and why audiences scrutinize additions to iconic scores. 

Key People Mentioned

Film Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum

Creative Team: Stephen Schwartz, Winnie Holzman, Jon M. Chu

Other Titles Referenced: Chicago, Dreamgirls, Hamilton, The Wizard of Oz, Suffs

Listener Discussion Questions

Did Wicked: For Good capture the emotional high of the stage version for you — or did the cinematic scope change it?

How do you feel about the additional Wizard of Oz tie-ins? Did they enhance the story or distract from it?

What makes a movie musical adaptation succeed — pacing, performance, fidelity to the stage show, or something else entirely?

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