Wicked: 12 Things You Hate About Hollywood In One Trailer

I list the twelve awful modern Hollywood tropes crammed into Wicked's teaser trailer

[@SwordInTheStorm]

Does it matter what race someone is if they are playing a green person or can only green people play green characters?

[@EchoChamberlain]

As for the green faced Witch in the video thumbnail - yes the character is green, so technically could be played by an actor from any background - but its more to do with characterization. The highstrung, self-conscious emotionally overwrought, delicate and camply expressive character traits of the witch in the stage show of Wicked are annoying, frustrating characteristics almost invariably ascribed to annoying white chicks in musicals, the kind of histrionic white chick behaviour that commonly elicits disparaging side-eye from black women; and it feels disconcerting to have a centered, poised and sophisticated black actress trying to pull off those flaky characteristics that are shot through with embarrassingly lame whiteness. Furthermore, witches in Oz are either nice and sweet, Cinderella types, which is too glaringly white a category of character in a lame, saccharine way for a black actress to look right playing, or witches are evil and nasty - in other words a Karen - and there is nothing whiter than a Karen. No black actress should ever play a Karen. So, if we decide that a black actress would be unsuitable to play an evil witch in Oz, and also not ideally suited to playing a histrionically self-conscious nice witch who speaks in lame-sounding overly affected and gushing white-style dialogue, then we’ve determined that the whole green witch thing can be judged to have a certain vibe that doesn’t necessarily lend itself naturally to race swapped diversity.

[@s.e.sportscards]

@SwordInTheStorm , you ok after that??..at least you tried and failed!

[@SwordInTheStorm]

@@s.e.sportscards I think you misunderstand the situation I made a comment and Echo replied, there was no achievement or failure Involved except for your attempt at humour if indeed that is what this was.

[@clintwarren7031]

The Wicked Witch of the West isn't real. Dorothy was dreaming and the witch was a representation of the very white neighbor lady that took Toto.

[@PistonHonda87]

Yes and no. This woman’s facial is too round, lips too big and not the right body type. She looks nothing like the witch.

[@Irys1997]

My man is the sole reason the thesaurus still exists

[@melindamercier6811]

This was a lot of word vomit. There are actually legitimate problems with this movie and he named maybe 2.

[@bradleymilton1720]

Perhaps, the question now is how bad are those 2 'legitimate problems?'

[@justicewokeisutterbs8641]

I think probably "word vomit" is the only thing appropriate to describe this cinematic woke vomit. I used to love the movies. No more.

[@protorhinocerator142]

@@justicewokeisutterbs8641 It's very rare that they make a movie worth me paying money to see. I used to go all the time. The last really good movie I saw was Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves. Good stuff.

[@colleagueloyal7269]

yeah this list kinda sucked

[@chefsalty9316]

Also its ironic that they go the extra mile to make everything look "diverse" with generic college campus inspired cast members, yet they don't even bother to include any of the actual diverse races from the actual Oz books.

[@robwhitebrook8580]

Its not about actual diverse...its all about message diverse ("they" actually don't give a crap about diversity, its only a tool for "them")

[@brianmurphy6480]

That first shot of the "college campus"...did anyone else notice the fat Asian dude on the left was wearing the same style skirt as the blond woman in the middle? Can't wait to see their iteration of the Lollipop Kids. What will THEY be? Height-challenged advocates of intergenerational BD/SM with side hobbies in dentistry? 🙄

[@dr.philmcbill3931]

This. The Oz books (and even Wicked to a lesser extent) had diversity in the world building and the magical creatures. It would be like making all of the creatures in LOTR the same creature just with different races. It defeats the entire point.

[@chefsalty9316]

@@dr.philmcbill3931 The world of Nonestica/Oz is full of so much vibrant life and zany creatures. People made of puzzle pieces, talking rabbits, living pastries, guys with wheels on their hands, and that's just on the surface world. But that doesn't matter to Hollywood.

[@robwhitebrook8580]

As Echo Chamberlain pointed out recently, Hollywood (read - most Nth American/Canadian/Western) writers create stories where the characters are diverse, just like Los Angeles (at least, where the writers live). But leaving aside the fact they are reflecting only a tiny part of the world, If you make every place, every person, every period diverse, inclusive and add equality of outcomes, Then everything is the same, and if everything is D.I.E. then there is no story...or anything else. Ants. @@dr.philmcbill3931

[@MrMoridinalthor]

Which one is the witch?

[@remuslazar2033]

Yes 😅

[@JaylukKhan]

They're both witches.

[@czzlbnfhaka]

Both of them actually if you’ve watched The Wizard of Oz and Wicked

[@1996koke]

Both, Elphaba is the witch of the west and Glinda is the witch of the south

[@samstromberg5593]

@@1996koke West and south? Something doesn't seem right here...

[@rezaamiripraramadhan9141]

Ariana Grande looks like Dave Chapelle when he role played as a white man in Comedy Central’s Racial Draft sketch.

[@legionxxiii3570]

Bruh lmaooo that’s spot on!!!!😂

[@savioblanc]

It's the weird Uncanny Valley Whiteface

[@guyvizard549]

Zing.

[@jasper_of_puppets]

The Asian delegation chooses [...] The Wu-Tang Clan!

[@furtim1]

NAILED IT! I knew she looked familiar

[@DragonLandlord]

Dont forget the play was based off a book that was written because the author's child didnt like that the Wicked Witch was the villian.

[@beskarman38]

Was the author's child is a female?

[@Locke350]

@@beskarman38The author of Wicked wasn’t related to L Frank Baum and he was a gay man.

[@beskarman38]

@@Locke350 That's still explains it though.🤷‍♂️

[@Locke350]

@@beskarman38 That doesn’t make him female.

[@beskarman38]

@@Locke350 It's not about that. But thanks for the clarification.

[@SomeNorwegianGuy]

Can we cancel Ariana Grande for doing norseface?

[@johnhoran9840]

Can we cancel her for pretending to make music?

[@vixxexo6855]

Ariana Grande is white.

[@war_designer8763]

"norseface" thats going in my dictionary FOREVER

[@rollitupmars]

She’s white does it matter

[@protorhinocerator142]

Did you say norseface or horseface?

[@harbl99]

Girls with a time machine: "Hi granny!" Boys with a time machine: "We're going back in time to break Jean Rhys' fingers. The _Wide Sargasso Sea_ scorned-woman-as-heroine re-hash trend has to be stopped at source."

[@starlit_hawser11]

Deep cut

[@francoiseeduard303]

I was going to go back to Keep America Great and Keep Britain Great starting at some point before the 1945 UK general election, but I guess that is part it. That and get Dinosaur DNA.

[@virtualalias]

Just kill Marx. Save billions of lives (more than if you killed Hitler) by avoiding Marxism, economical and (in the case of the video) cultural.

[@lucymiau5700]

Me with a time machine "Hi Lottery numbers from next week" But, maybe. I'm just a Cat.

[@pinksywedarnoc8017]

"We're going back in time to the first Thanksgiving to get turkey off the menu.....THAT'S RIGHT! We're going back in time to the first Thanksgiving to get TURKEYS. OFF. THE MENU!"

[@nikholman1287]

As one of few husbands who enjoy the musical, in defense of the book (which I hate), it was the first to do all of this, so it was original at the time.

[@bryan81584]

I enjoyed the musical too and I cannot for the life of me remember why. Hearing the synopsis it sounds terrible, it sounds like everything I hate about modern retellings.

[@harbl99]

A book called _Wide Sargasso Sea_ did it first. Turns out the mad woman in the antic was the misunderstood, oppressed-by-men heroine of _Jane Eyre_ all along.

[@laurast.martin2421]

It was still a Wizard of Oz fanfiction.

[@iamthesenate8825]

@@bryan81584let me tell you why. It’s because you are listening to this straw man and outright lies about the play. Do you even remember what the wizard of oz represented in wicked? NO U DONT! HE DIDNT PRESENT THE PATRIARCHY AND HIS ENTIRE THING IS THAT HE WANTED TO BE A FATHER. For the life of me, please stop listening to people like him who don’t even know the source material and just pout our political nonsense

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

I had never planned on seeing this, because I didn't much care for the musical. It's not a good adaptation of the books, which actually make fun of musicals like these. I understand why they made the musical into the movie, but I think a straight, serious adaptation of the original book would have been better.

[@AdamicTheory48]

I definitely like the book story better, though the musical is fine. I doubt it will happen, but I hope that a movie or series is made based on the book. I hear that the movie musical will include stuff from the book, so that lessens the chance of making an adaptation of the book even more.

[@colleagueloyal7269]

too dark probably

[@genebaker511]

Number 13 - "Nobody asked for this."

[@colleagueloyal7269]

there are plenty of Wicked fans what are you yapping about? Plenty of people like the musical.

[@khfan4life365]

The audience wants Idina and Kristen to reprise their roles, not this.

[@jonathanrolle2046]

This trailer literally wiped the smile off my face right after I finished watching the Deadpool and wolverine trailer.

[@colleagueloyal7269]

I loved it, probably due to my heater nerd showing though

[@Mitzoplick]

The stage play set off the "villains are not bad just victims or misunderstood" story trope. See Maleficent and Cruella as future off shoots. The excuses do not explain away straight white men having circumstances that lead them to villainous acts, generally speaking.

[@bjornh4664]

Cruella was at least entertaining, while Maleficient was one big plot hole.

[@ECKohns]

Didn’t the newest Hunger Games movie pretty much humanize the straight white male villain?

[@Mitzoplick]

@@ECKohns didnt see it. Kudos if they did I guess.

[@saskia3691]

@@ECKohns The Star Wars Prequels did the same with Vader and the Star Wars Sequels did the same with Kylo Ren. Phoenix's Joker did this too.

[@samstromberg5593]

My thing with Maleficent is that I actually really enjoyed that movie and a lot of it is because they called it Maleficent instead of Sleeping Beauty. Cause it's NOT Sleeping Beauty, and it would've ruined it to make it that way. Instead, they made a completely knew story with some of the same plot points So the Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty is still a villain but the Maleficent from Maleficent is not That being said, it was good. They should quite while they're ahead. If they keep it going, they will ruin it like they have everything else

[@thesurlygamer6933]

As a 54 year old fan of the Wizard of Oz who waited patiently each year as a child for the movie to come back on tv and enjoyed it as the event that it was, all I can say is not my fucking witch.

[@Lewis-hl9qw]

Well, good job you have that one then. It’s almost like this one isn’t aimed at you.

[@artisticamethyst3860]

Don't watch it...🤔

[@lisah8438]

Dude stop being racist

[@applejones1697]

I agree. This film.... Ive seen the stage play... Ive read the book... This is not wicked. If anyone wants this they could just watch maleficent. I'm so tired of this. I hate them using us as tokens.

[@rogerbartlet5720]

I saw "Wicked" as a theater play with some nieces and nephews. While it wasn't as obnoxious (back then ~10 years?) checking off the libtard to-do list, it just seemed contrived and weird - like a new Disney Star Wars movie.

[@MrPGC137]

I saw a stage production of it too. It was weird as fuck but at least it was long before the 'misunderstood villainess' shtick was beaten into the ground, so it felt fairly-new & novel at the time. Also, it very-obviously didn't take itself too seriously, both of which facts alone put it several steps above this upcoming shlockfest.

[@OraDeCulcare]

Black She-Hulk vibes

[@nathanpyz]

is a witchi of a fictional story just stfup

[@beejcarson]

What?

[@CandyAppleRed13]

You sound like a idiot.

[@HansKlopek]

No subversive messaging here...

[@JasonRasmussen]

Wicked's ham fisted story has always been blatantly obvious.

[@Bgrosz1]

It's so thick now that it's hard to call it subversive at this point.

[@Jay-jb2vr]

There's plenty

[@Hewylewis]

Ever read the book or seen the Broadway show?

[@jamesb.russell2942]

@@Hewylewis Wow I gotta read the subversive source material to know the movie is subversive too?

[@kristofgriffin384]

There already is a movie adaptation of Wicked, & it's called Frozen.

[@Hewylewis]

I think you're thinking of Maleficent. LOL

[@volentimeh]

@@Hewylewis They all just kind of blend together. (Don't breathe this)

[@MrPGC137]

@@volentimeh At least neither Wicked nor Maleficent had a gratuitous, nauseating nose-picking joke (like Frozen did.)

[@CiElitOo0O]

Frozen? Like the Disney Frozen?

[@MrPGC137]

@@CiElitOo0O There is no other. (There are only so many vastly-overrated animated movies by that title.)

[@Fuzzycat16]

Everything looks like a checkbox. and it sucks.

[@darkcity2004]

What do you mean by that?

[@Fuzzycat16]

@@darkcity2004 It's a film created by meetings and suits. No passion or vision.

[@Bgrosz1]

As soon as I see a trailer or movie/show snippet that gives the obvious "checking off checkboxes" signs, I'm out. That's about 95% of media today.

[@darkcity2004]

@@Fuzzycat16 How did you gather all of that from a 60 sec teaser trailer?

[@darkcity2004]

@@Bgrosz1 What " boxes" are being checked. Please elaborate

[@freedomwriter1995]

Its all part of the new paradigm, which states: everything will suck and you will be happy about it.

[@ninjaartist1235]

"You will enjoy nothing and you will be happy"

[@MegaKnight2012]

No I won't, but I won't be nearly as miserable as those making the repeating cynical content

[@RagingEggs]

Thing is the stage play was crazy successful so I imagine this will probably make money, and of course Hollywood will learn the wrong lesson.

[@knowledgeseeker4614]

Don’t be too sure. The woke West Side Story was a box office failure, and that was based on an extremely successful play. This might fail as well.

[@RagingEggs]

@@knowledgeseeker4614 yes but they added extra dumb by making it in Spanish with no subtitles so the vast majority of people in America couldn't understand it if we tried.

[@guyvizard549]

See, I remember Wicked being a hit, but then other plays came out and it fell by the wayside, though I suppose it ran for a while... The Producers was one.

[@kurtdewittphoto]

@@RagingEggs They made is Spanish with no subtitles? I never heard about that. Seems ludicrous.

[@RagingEggs]

@@kurtdewittphoto they did. Suppose I should note that not the entire movie is Spanish but has many scenes in Spanish that are never subtitled because they didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Or whatever

[@chefsalty9316]

The generic music used in trailers being used for this one too just makes it feel even more generic. It's essentially just Dsney's Maleficent with an Oz twist that's barely based on a Broadway musical that was barely based on a book that just draws upon the 1939 movie for the upteenth time while failing to once again be based on anything from the actual source material. Seriously, why is hollywood so hesitant to adapt the actual Oz books by L. Frank Baum?

[@agrumpymonkey5800]

Because they’re American classics. And Hollywood hates America

[@carloscordero6695]

It's a trailer. It is waaay to early to arrive to such conclusions.

[@gregmeyer1805]

Have you read any of the original Oz books? I love them but they are much more darker in tone and violent. They tried adapting some of the later books into film with Return to Oz from 1985.

[@RoseBaggins]

@@gregmeyer1805 I have, they're actually quite fun and as dark as they should be, being the American fairy tale and all.

[@gregmeyer1805]

@@RoseBaggins I took a class in college which was a study of children's literature. That is when I first got exposed to the Oz books. It was also the very first time I read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. I'm surprised that we haven't seen an altered musical version of those classic books yet. They would call it Off With Her Head, and it would be about the Red Queen/Queen of Hearts and she is truly just a victim of the Mad Hatter's evil plot to control Wonderland. She would be misunderstood of course, and despite any of her evil doings, she really didn't mean to commit them as she was bullied in croquet club when she was a child.

[@dereka5310]

Everyone here is such a downer. Yikes. What life to live

[@dereka5310]

The trailer just came out. Just came out. Chill

[@rogierb5945]

Dont ask questions. Just consoom product.

[@gregmeyer1805]

I saw Wicked on stage back when it first appeared on Broadway but I honestly don't remember too much about it. I do remember Dorothy being portrayed as a villian and when she douses the Wicked Witch of the West with water, the Wicked Witch doesn't actually die. She just fakes her death. Yes, it's as lame as it sounds. Just like Roald Dahl had nothing to do with Wonka, L Frank Baum had nothing to do with Wicked. In both instances, they are "what if" scenarios because Hollywood has no creativity left, they are not canon, and thusly don't mean shart to me.

[@michaelwelch9123]

Dorothy is not portrayed as a villain, she is an innocent duped by the Wizard. Elpheba's escape is a perfect set up and payoff.

[@gregmeyer1805]

@@michaelwelch9123 Fair enough. But her actions are still viewed as a baddie. When L Frank Baum wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz the Wicked Witch of the West was such a minor character, you could blink and miss her altogether. But she was evil, plain and simple. It was the 1939 film that elevated the character to a main antagonist. Now I stand by my belief that Hollywood is a dumpster fire for many reasons. One of those reasons is how insanely uncreative they are. I think Wicked was one of the first to try and humanize its villain. Follow that with Malificent and Cruella and it just reeks of trying to suck as much life out an establishment property. It also shows the desperation on display to have audiences now feel back the villains from their classic tales, to weep over how misunderstood they are. Oh boo hoo, Cruella wants to skin puppies alive to make a fur coat, I wonder what we can do to try and justify her actions? Interesting. It's as if all of this is mirroring how criminals are treated by our justice system now.

[@nickcaveownsmysoul9333]

​@@gregmeyer1805 Um no it's not. The second act literally says that the reason the Wicked Witch Elphaba wants Dorothy is because G(a)Linda gave away her sister's shoes, and those were the last thing Elphaba has to remember her sister by. The only insult the Wicked Witch says is "Imagine walking away with a dead woman's shoes! This girl must have been raised in a barn!" which is of course a reference to Kansas. You're literally griping about nothing. The Wicked musical is the most successful musical in Broadway history, even outdoing The Phantom Of The Opera's ticket sales in half the time.

[@gregmeyer1805]

@@nickcaveownsmysoul9333 So you are implying that since something is financially successful then it must automatically be good and adored by all that merely comes within 100 yards of its presence? Wicked was not created by L Frank Baum and is not canon in the Oz books. There is no Elphaba. That is a name made up using the letters of L F Ba of L Frank Baum to some how humanize her as some sort of misunderstood villain, though she's really a hero. She is the Wicked Witch of the West. That's it. Galinda had her name shortened to Glinda by the 1939 film and she is not the Good Witch of the North. Look, I can see that you are bent out of shape by somebody who wasn't whisked away by the pandering nonsense of Wicked.

[@nickcaveownsmysoul9333]

@@gregmeyer1805 better than implying that because YOU personally don't like something then it must be bad, right? 🙄 Do you realize how egotistical you sound right now? I am going by sales because it takes EFFORT to pull out your wallet and pay for something. It requires zero effort to talk smack on the internet, especially about something you have proven you don't even know about. People pay for quality. People pay for entertainment that they like. And if a lot of people pay for it, then that means their opinion is reaching what is called a GENERAL CONSENSUS. It's not an opinion anymore, it's statistics. It takes a lot of effort to please a crowd so much that they will make your production the most successful in history. The Phantom Of The Opera wasn't just a successful musical, it was THE most successful musical in the history of the 20th century. And now Wicked dethroned it to become the most successful musical of the 21st century. That means something. And it definitely means more than the personal opinion of some random nobody in a yt comments section who couldn't even remember the plot correctly.

[@b-dogswings8019]

I’m ashamed to say that I enjoyed watching Wicked in New York in 2015, but got too pissed in the hotel bar afterward to collect my bonus!

[@ArkhamsAngel13]

Ha! I watched that S.P. episode yesterday!

[@durandaldevil]

The music is great and I enjoyed the show as well. I’m not crazy about this new casting though.

[@cenationofjnu]

Another box office bomb

[@JasonRasmussen]

It's going to make bank by all the women that know the Gravity song by heart.

[@colleagueloyal7269]

nah theater nerds are rich some how

[@barttheraven]

They could've just aged up the character so that Idina Menzel could play her. Sure, it would change the story, but changes happen like that all the time.

[@supme7558]

Or pic anyone else

[@mezza001]

Yes !! I wanted Idina and Kristin for the movie versions. That would be amazing

[@SDesWriter]

Morissette Amon is such a better singer. She's also cute and bubbly enough that assuming the acting could be on par with the singing, she would be a compelling character as she falls from grace.

[@tank_0r]

I don't know that you could you really tell her age through all the green makeup anyway.

[@michaelbenn4912]

How is there a problem with a black actress portraying a character that is green?? People make it make sense🤦

[@geoffreybrockmeier3765]

The vote count for the trailer was about 80% dislikes, yet 95% of the reviews were "OMG! Can't wait to see this! This looks EPIC! AMAZING! I'm going to buy three tickets back to back to back for opening day!!!"

[@DaNinja60]

I would just see it for the world building. It won't be the same as the play but just nice to see how they make it look.

[@shuttittuppitt9355]

Bad news. They tossed the merry ol' land of Oz in the trash & replaced it with _this_ instead. Oz is a place that has all kinds of cool unexpected races (the species kind), but you're not getting that here.

[@skaidonC]

Agree with all of the video! .....however just to provide some alternative perspective: As someone who is actually a fan of the stage musical (and a man at that!) I willingly admit the many flaws the story has. I think the premise of the story is rather good, it's the execution that's the problem. Premise: Reimagining a classic story from a different characters' perspective in order to add more moral + character complexity, thus making a more mature version of the story to be enjoyed by a more emotionally mature audience. Based on that criteria (complexity) my favourite song from the stage musical is the generally disregarded/overlooked Act 2 entr'acte, in which one of the main characters has to face the reality that dreams A) do not last B) never quite work out. Unfortunately, the story goes in completely the wrong direction, and ends with the message that "it's the friends we make along the way that really matter" (no seriously) + leaning far too much into the childish aesthetic / language rather than the far more interesting "otherwordly / fae" that would have been so much more effective for a more mature sequel to the classic Wizard of Oz. In addition, the very commercial nature of the musical tends to emphasise all the wrong points as well - too big, too loud, too bright, not grounded enough, but hey it makes lots of money. The movie seems to have learnt ALL the wrong lessons, but it's Hollywood so of course they did. (also the male side character Fiyero (like Ken from the Barbie movie) is unironically the most complex and interesting character in the story) EDIT: OH GOD THAT OTT VOCAL RUN HURTS MY EARS. Same problem as the Little Mermaid trailer - "more" (vocally) is rarely better in musical theatre. See the KZbinr "Sideways" for WHY the music in musical theatre is so important to the story. Doing an impressive vocal run...for the sake of it actively hurts the credibility of your characterisation.

[@robwhitebrook8580]

As you say "Reimagining a classic story from a different characters' perspective in order to add more moral / character complexity, thus making a more mature version of the story" is all good and well, as long as the facts of the original story do not get "lost" along the way. If they do then its not a reimagining but a whole new story. An almost always derivative, inferior, self inserted...whole new story.

[@skaidonC]

@@robwhitebrook8580 Quite. Part of the reason I "can" enjoy is Wicked is because I view it as perhaps a different story altogether from Wizard of Oz, just in the same visual style. It could perhaps be classified as "professional fanfiction". I think Echo's comment about the undermining of the character of the Wizard himself is most telling that it is indeed a different story.

[@robwhitebrook8580]

You may or may not be aware but there is a Disney film "Return to OZ" reviewed well by "In praise of Shadows", assuming you are into OZ lore. I acquired a copy based on this review and it was all that was promised. @@skaidonC

[@bethanygribble]

I agree with the vocal run part as the actresses who play Elphaba on stage are specifically told NOT to do a vocal run as it doesn't make sense with her character. The only time that they really play around with that riff is on their final performances as sort of a farewell and thank you.

[@symon3304]

The book was nothing like the musical. The book had dark themes about family, fascism, and war. Also the book implies that the Wizard of Oz is the Witch of the West's father

[@simpleshow5571]

The second point with him being the father is also implied in the play.

[@elizabethdavis8264]

There was a whole implied-polyamory plot with the parents of elphaba and her siblings that could have been it's own book.

[@ECKohns]

The book implies that the Wizard straight up raped Elphaba’s mom. If you want to complain about stuff being “anti-male” then you should straight up avoid the novel. The Musical makes the Wizard far more sympathetic and less evil. And it sort of implies that his evil advisor is the only reason for the bad stuff happening.

[@Nsinger998]

@@elizabethdavis8264 huh?

[@XanderHarris1023]

They are pulling in bits of the book to flesh it out into two 2⃣ hour movies. They probably aren't going full novel dark but some elements will be there.

[@tjimicole2677]

Boy that Wizard of Oz movie was pretty good huh. Wonder why we can't see more like that?

[@beskarman38]

Answer: More IP representation crap.

[@brianmurphy6480]

"...rising on a cloud of queefs..." Hey, Britain! Unhand this here fella, America is laying claim to its next Poet Laureate! Don't make us come 'cross that there pond and snatch him off of yas! 😎 Edit: Only in retrospect did I realize how much innuendo was forcefully inserted into that single paragraph, but dammit all, I think I'll keep it. 😀

[@enderlain385]

New Zealand

[@brianmurphy6480]

​@@enderlain385So, Britain Lite: all the accent, half the snobbery? 🤷‍♂️

[@umbrellacorp.]

I was thinking it was a movie about Shrek's wife. What's her name. 😒 I think I'll skip this movie too.☹️

[@colleagueloyal7269]

pls don't Wicked is a great musical and is a great companion piece to the original books and if this even slightly captures that magic it will be really good. hope they don't fuck it up though

[@jongrover8763]

Each of the lands of Oz has its own color according to the source material. As I remember, purple, blue, yellow, and red. And the emerald city in the center is green. So it makes sense to have the characters' actors in face paint. It is not a land of white people. It is a land of people of various colors. Any character can be played by an actor of any race, as long as they are in face paint. Of course Dorothy has to be a white child actor.

[@clintwarren7031]

It is still a race swap since the wicked witch isn't real. Dorothy was dreaming and the witch was a representation of the very white neighbor lady that took Toto. It's 100% an unnecessary race swap.

[@michaelsiebielec5554]

The whole thing is another example of DEI run amuck. I'll watch it on TV when I don't have to pay for it.

[@danjquiroz]

Jesus we get it. You hate it. Got it. Cool?

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Need some crackers to go with that whine?

[@alecperdeau650]

I'm just gonna go watch Return to Oz. Getting mad at this just takes too much energy. Why should we be surprised at this point?

[@chefsalty9316]

Same, but it's sad to think that Return to Oz will probably be the closest we ever get to a proper adaptation of the Oz books.

[@alecperdeau650]

@@chefsalty9316 I'm not surprised. People don't realize how that first film set the standard for all Oz media. People will never know how wild those original books were.

[@DaNinja60]

As a event staffing worker I've probably seen the production a million times. Every time I saw it I would just compare the voices but enjoy it each time. It may just bomb at the box office but those of us who enjoyed the play just want to see it a lot bigger since we already know the story.

[@Mpiewizard]

If this movie had come out prior to the sympathic villain trope taking over modern Hollywood, I think it would fare much better which is ironic as hell since this was the exact thing that started that. People are getting tired of that overly done trope, they've been tired of it for years now. It’s pretty agreed upon in the theater community that Wicked has a pretty bad story so… it’ll be interesting to see how this turns out.

[@loralubimaia2783]

Is it just me or is Michelle Yeoh in everything now....

[@brianchu3317]

Yeah… DEI checklist.

[@theoconstantinou2839]

Didn’t they do this with OZ the great & powerful?? & they made the black chic evil ? Was Milla Kunis busy? 🧙

[@theoconstantinou2839]

Give me the Wiz any day

[@nirjordas5697]

How do you race swap a green character?

[@iamthesenate8825]

EXACTLY

[@RevBrotherJackMusick]

For years people have been claiming that subscribers are unsubscribed from their channels. This is the first time that I have actually had to resubscribe and click notification bell for someone whose work I enjoy.

[@vikingvisigoth4384]

All of those things you just said..."Ditto!" ;) "Cloud of Queefs" love it!

[@michaelwelch9123]

You obviously haven't seen the musical. As a straight, white, 54 year old man, Wicked is great. My favorite musical. Nobody that saw it was bored. Very funny, a story about friendship, a love triangle, the characters are not flawless, in fact their flaws propel the story. It also doesn't change the story of the Wizard of Oz. I'll admit the movie trailer looks bloated and separating it into two movies is a cash grab, but the musical is not 'woke', it is clever and smart and a damn good time

[@DaNinja60]

Thank you. I've got about 7 years on you and being i was one of those people who took people to their seats i saw it from probably the first production of it then it hit our city. No one can out sing Idina but it will look good if nothing else. That's all I'd be there to see is how they build the world.

[@floydffrogfloydffrog7453]

I couldn't stop staring at the lips. The green lips. It was as if I was bewitched.

[@thelooch9546]

Just imagine what your knob would look like if she gave you a hummer !!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@aplusenglishonline7011]

These films are looking like parodies of themselves now.

[@Vorname_Nachnahme]

On point!

[@reservoirdude92]

Ah, DEI strikes again 🤣

[@ecatskid]

No, that's not the case for Cynthia Erivo she was hired to add credibility to the movie as a real musical after the studio went and got the popstar Ariana Grande . Cynthia Erivo is a Tony award winning best actress and a Grammy winner .

[@cyberneticshadow5572]

Arianna Grande was pretty once, now she's a melted plastic doll...

[@HerrinSchadenfreude]

I saw Wicked 12 times on stage including twice on Broadway and I own the book. It's my favorite musical of the past 20 years. When I saw this trailer yesterday, I was hugely annoyed and disappointed that they caught this up in their woke nonsense. It'll be the first rendition I won't spend a dime on because I know it won't be enough to race swap Eliphaba. They'll also have to do the blatant woke lecturing and definitely won't forget the false dilemma where men have to be tripped in order for women to look taller because they can't both stand up at once in woke world. And they don't even have the excuse of claiming exclusion here. Because there already was a black Eliphaba in The Wiz, where almost every lead was black. And I loved that production too.

[@darkoale3299]

Now hear me out here. I never watched the musical and I won't be watching this as I have no interest but, how can you race swap a person who's green? I admit I know nothing about the source material. Was she white and took a potion to become green or something?

[@Nsinger998]

@@darkoale3299 Sort of. Her mother had an affair with a man implied to be the future wizard of Oz. The man spiced things up with a green drink that the mother continued to drink while pregnant and is implied to be the reason Elphaba was born with green skin. The book describes Elphaba having white parents and the wizard is traditionally a white huckster from our world. To have a black woman portray Elphaba is thus too on the nose with the race thing and too off-putting for fans of the play/book who expect adaptions to well...ADAPT.

[@brennanmaynard4237]

Bruh how do you race swap a stage character? Moreover, how do you race swap a person who’s green?!

[@Nsinger998]

@@brennanmaynard4237 Now you're just being a troll or willfully ignorant. I've explained repeatedly and you refuse to hear it. Look up a guy nicknamed Papa Smurf. Would you say he isn't white just because his skin turned blue? Elphaba was born to white parents and inherited their white features but the mom drank a green potion during pregnancy that turned Elphaba green.

[@asmith121]

I cannot understand how anyone thought her singing at the end of the trailer thought that sounded good enough for a final edit... She sounds awful

[@CLIFFLIX]

I love your writing style! Sharp,...sharp,...REALLY sharp cutting and biting thoughts and commentary. Love it!

[@jamesstewart8376]

I wish this movie was practical, the first one was and it still holds up. The CGI automatically dates it.

[@artinist]

Great analysis!

[@PasOdMater]

I don't think I've ever seen such concentrated 'representation' in my life. From my first viewing, I spotted a gay best friend, a body-positive best friend, possible lesbianism, racial swapping, man bad-isms, strong women tm everywhere, racial mixing out the ass...

[@Lewis-hl9qw]

And?

[@markgundle4150]

May blow your mind to discover that most if not all of this has been in the show since '03...

[@robwhitebrook8580]

Reflecting the reality of an L.A. writers room to the hypocrisy spotting world in general, never ends well. @@Lewis-hl9qw

[@PasOdMater]

@@markgundle4150 Oh it doesn't. I'm quite aware that this was one of the harbingers of the cancer we're suffering from today.

[@Reeal15]

The "gay best friend" you're referring to is probably the overly flirty straight male heartthrob character. Not sure who the "body-positive best friend" is or whatever the hell that even means (did you see someone slightly on the thicker side and it made you uncomfortable?), the only 'racial' thing about the story is *the main character is green* not sure what the hell a "man bad-ism" is, but I can assure you that Jeff Goldblums character has an equally - or even arguably MORE - evil female counterpart, and the main two characters are platonic friends, not lesbians - but it's good to know that friends of the same sex showing the slightest bit of physical affect makes you feel icky. Go off, though, I guess. If you have to read this far into a movie adaptation of a 22-year-old musical to find things to be mad about that aren't even there, maybe you're the one with the problem.

[@blankadams3120]

I mean, about half of those complaints are in the Broadway play, but they're done with purpose. The big thing that's getting under my skin about this movie is that they really should've hired people who could actually sing for Elphaba and Galinda. Yes, I know Galinda is being played by Ariana Grande, no, that doesn't change my statement. Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel can hit the notes that are in the songs, no need for slip sliding around with autotune to hit anything. The Wizard being kind of useless is important to the plot. Elphaba being 'not evil' is done very intelligently, because these other characters are using her ability to do magic as a sort of 'wag the dog' plot.

[@JasonRasmussen]

Wicked isn't good. It started the evil person is really misunderstood and it's someone else's fault trend. Yes, I've seen it... Twice. Once with friends (fool me once), the second with my wife as she wanted to see it.

[@Reeal15]

Pretty sure The Phantom Of The Opera started that trend a solid 18 years earlier.

[@jeromecable5608]

the phantom always was a "misunderstood villan" though.. the evil witches in Oz were just that. I just cringed at the poster for the musical.. i mean , I was never exactly happy that the Wizard of Oz movie made Oz a dream rather than a real land as it was in the books, so i'm really touchy...

[@dr.philmcbill3931]

@@Reeal15 No one in the book or the stage show ever said the Phantom was the good guy. Raul was always the hero who saved Christine. The entire runtime of the musical is spent telling the audience how awful the Phantom is, and how he “kills without a thought” and must be stopped at all costs. So, no one was ever trying to say he was the good guy.

[@user-sf3pg6fi1j]

@@Reeal15In the book he was an unhinged psychopath.

[@Snicker60515]

Hey Echo! Glad to see you didn't seem to lose any subscribers by not bowing down in obeisance to Ms. Carano. Cheers!

[@EchoChamberlain]

I lost about 60 subs!

[@Snicker60515]

@@EchoChamberlain could have been worse but thank God it wasn't, hehehe!

[@benandcullensoldchannel2087]

“Feculant” 😂

[@Hitmanmonkey]

I had to stop watching this at work I was laughing too hard.

[@genreproductions2706]

Have you ever seen the musical?

[@RobTheDoodler]

It should’ve been like the live action version of the Grinch, but without the redemption in the end for the grouchy malevolent hag. It would’ve been hilarious.

[@_birdie]

yeah it should be wayyy more campy. plus it shouldn't be in 2 freaking parts... i mean whyyy. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@RobTheDoodler]

@@_birdie I would’ve seriously appreciated seeing a campy movie about a total jerkass witch that ends with her sister getting the house dropped on top of her after terrorizing munchkin land.

[@protorhinocerator142]

The Grinch's redemption arc seems like an unearned Ebenezer Scrooge redemption arc. What's the difference between Scrooge and Old Man Potter from It's a Wonderful Life? Potter doesn't get a redemption arc. Redemption went to George Baily instead. Protagonist hair makes such a huge difference.

[@droxyy]

the live action grinch should never have been made.

[@RobTheDoodler]

@@droxyy I wouldn’t argue with that. But I’d take a Grinch-like movie over this.

[@nekograce7914]

No one sings ‘Defying Gravity” like Idina Menzel.

[@terenceblakely4328]

When I saw the trailer I was shocked that it wasn't done by Disney.

[@CouchCoop128]

Im amazed they kept the blonde tbf

[@natmarelnam4871]

only bc Ariana pretends she's black. And she looks bad as a blond.

[@sunshinecoolwater9528]

I want to see Leonardo DiCaprio star in a biopic about George Floyd.

[@planescaped]

Or a remake of Zulu with a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural cast. I am picturing a big ginger dude, a skinny Chinese guy, and an overweight nerd standing alongside a female Shaka Zulu waving their ikwa.

[@brianmurphy6480]

​@@planescapedNice reference to the Neolithic, there. But I think it'd be more apropos if their assegai had an 18" dildo at the end of the hardwood, uh...shafts, instead of an iron spearhead. It makes for much more compelling visual storytelling. 🥲

[@marcussinclaire4890]

​@@planescapedBruce Campbell has to play Shaka Zulu. 😊

[@kennethrosario6706]

Genius

[@michaelbenn4912]

Or John Wayne as Genghis Khan or Laurence Olivier as Othello🤣 Wait a sec 🤔that been done!! You clowns are are beyond hypocritical at times🤦

[@kayskaht2052]

You always go so ham on these topics! 😭😭😭😭 Ruthless!

[@BoxChildFilms]

first time in my life my stomach hurt from watching a trailer

[@fredo1070]

The worst thing about this movie, is that it is Wicked Part 1, Part 2 comes out next year. Who ever heard of a two part musical?

[@Reeal15]

Considering they all are longer than the average film and contain an intermission in the middle, I'd say that most everyone that has ever attended a musical has heard of a two-part musical. Wait til you hear about a play in three acts...

[@myrealnameisjohndoe116]

Aside from live musicals being done in 2 acts, there's also several musicals with sequels(Bring Back Birdie, Annie 2: Miss Hannigan's Revenge, and Love Never Dies being just a few examples)

[@gregmeyer1805]

Annie 2? Had no idea that was a thing. Sounds absolutely pathetic. Miss Hannigan's Revenge? Hahahah, good lord, it's not Rise of Miss Hannigan? Hahah

[@racheljames7]

You are so eloquent and funny.

[@greensaber77]

I enjoyed the book, though, I wouldn't say it's everyone's cup of tea. The vibe I get from this trailer is it'll strip out all the unsavory and raunchy details that actually made the characters interesting and all that'll be left is an easily digested besties story.

[@blakepace]

😂 Don't mince words, Chamberlain, tell us what you REALLY think! 🎉 P.S. 100% Agree.

[@RobertR3750]

No way in hell I'm ever going to watch this. I'm not even watching Echo's video on it. The very concept of the story is annoying: Turning the villain of a well known movie into a misunderstood antihero. Yeccccch.

[@IanConnel]

They'll keep doing that, because their conscience knows they're the bad guys for their actions, but their lying side will keep trying to validate their actions.

[@WolfStory]

Echo's video is actually quite clever and funny as hell. I recommend it.

[@RobertR3750]

@@WolfStory Nope. I have no interest in even a satirical take on this junk.

[@WolfStory]

@@RobertR3750 Umm then why are you here?

[@RobertR3750]

@@WolfStory To express an opinion. You have a problem with that?

[@kevinmccabe7263]

I think most people ignored the musical for a reason: because it was a silly and juvenile reimagining of an actually good story. Now the crying babies in Hollywood are gonna make it even worse. Great.

[@noahalcantar2431]

Godzilla does another facepalm

[@radioflyer68911]

I was not going to watch it anyway. Now I'm not going to watch it even more.

[@Midtable1881]

I've heard of Dead On Arrival but this looks Dead Before Arrival.

[@Langley_Ackerman19]

Thank heavens for Echo Chamberlain, Little Platoon, Mauler, Disparu and Critical Drinker, who still speak proper English. I love listening to your reviews, more so because speaking proper English is a dying skill that's being replaced by r3tarded version from America.

[@dingleberrysnigglefritz]

"Caterwauling." Perfect.

[@pagemastrogiovanni9195]

I read the book as soon as it came out eons ago and I saw the play on Broadway the 2nd performance during opening week and loved it and the soundtrack. On the night I went with my husband and in-laws Taye Diggs was standing in for Elphaba/Wicked Witch, Idina Menzel, character's love interest. Kristen Chenoweth played Glinda. It was a fabulous production.

[@bobbressi5414]

I can't wait to miss this one! I am pumped to forget it even existed in a month and never discuss it again!

[@hrossaman]

I've watched this 4 times already... trying to fully absorb the effervescent writing

[@hannibalhobbes4289]

I’ve read the book and I saw the musical twice. I loved both. I won’t be seeing this.

[@webuser5748]

Every single time Echo says the word "yesteryear" I erupt in ecstasy

[@resington]

Brutal and hilarious.

[@josemanueldetemmer4495]

New oscar category: best black actress painted: Ahsoka vs green witch

[@leebennett1821]

A Green Black Woman wow !!! sometimes the idea i will be Dead one-day is quite comforting

[@beskarman38]

Holy estrogen, Batwoman!

[@darrengordon-hill]

Black girl magic

[@donm3986]

I counted 3 breaths during this six-minute verbal assault, amazing feat.

[@miralcalugcugan7960]

People complaining either about the musical or the movie, completely misunderstanding what the word RETELLING means.

[@DrewFC]

I was unaware of that wicked was a broadway play. I just thought it was Hollywood trying to make a “maleficent” style movie but for the Wicked witch from wizard of oz. But regardless, I was thoroughly unimpressed with the trailer and thought it’s just the same 🐂 💩 they’ve been giving us for years.

[@DaNinja60]

The play was awesome. I worked it whenever it came to town. I loved the soundtrack and still have it on my computer.

[@gnarwhal7562]

Trendy pop star who can't act? Check ✔️ Race-swapping the lead character for....reasons? Check ✔️ Splitting the film into a 2-parter for maximum milking? Check ✔️ Girlboss line directed toward an old white character? Check ✔️ Overuse of CGI? Check ✔️ Chemically pure, Walter White curated soundtrack? Check ✔️ Revealing the movie before reshoots have commenced filming? Check ✔️ This one's going to be a doozy fellas

[@jayf4851]

How can you race swap a green person?

[@JaylukKhan]

When will green people be allowed to portray themselves onscreen?

[@allynbriseno2426]

I’m not Ariana Grande fan but. That’s not true that Ariana can’t act she literally started as an actress on broadway and on tv I’ve seen the shows she’s in she can act and was pretty talented at it at a young age.

[@bigred8432]

How can you race swap someone who is green?

[@aasamspb967]

​@@bigred8432 that green color came because of a potion. If there was not a potion then that girl is a white. Her sister is white. Her parents are white. Now don't tell me there can be a white person with a face like an African.

[@CrayolaCoffeeBean]

How long until Daily Wire does a version with Brett as Dorothy. She’d be so cute!

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Dorothy isn't in Wicked. It takes place before her arrival.

[@williamjameshoffer4405]

On the plus side, a lot of guys are getting lucky afterwards.

[@jmace2424]

Only modern Hollyweird could manage to make a colorful magical world look sooo ugly!

[@TheHoneyBadger-yh5vj]

God bless you and your work sir Echo ❤❤❤😎😎😎👍👍👍

[@Papamarmottin]

Well said. Thank you!

[@DavidChristieCareerCafe]

Queef cloud!