Universal’s ‘Wicked: For Good’ on 4K delivers musical fantasy at maximum scale

The completion of director Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of a mammoth award-winning Broadway musical moves to the ultra-high definition home theater format in Wicked: For Good (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, rated PG, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 137 minutes, $34.98)

Picking up from last year’s film, the Wicked Witch of the West, aka Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), continues her guerrilla war against the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) for their insidious plot to enslave the animals. Meanwhile, her once good friend Galinda “Glinda” Upland (Ariana Grande) embraces her persona as Glinda the Good and prepares for her marriage to Prince Fiyero Tigelaar (Jonathan Bailey).

Another lavish and colorful production plays out as viewers are immersed in song and dance while exploring mythic moments such as building the yellow brick road, the frightening birth of the Tin Man and Scarecrow and the origins of a tornado that whisked Dorothy to Oz.

Ms. Erivo and Ms. Grande deliver another round of dynamic performances fueled by their powerful voices as they get caught up in the dramatic story culled from author Gregory Maguire’s adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s lore.

Despite the great singing throughout, the songs for this second part of “Wicked” actually detract from the really entertaining plot and character development.

No disrespect to composer Stephen Schwartz, who even introduces two new songs — Glinda’s “The Girl in the Bubble” and Elphaba’s “No Place Like Home” — but the only tune to strike riveting gold was the emotionally eye-watering “For Good,” crushed by the two lead actresses.

4K in action: Shot concurrently with the first film, the visual brilliance continues, thanks to this UHD release matching the “Wicked” 4K release through the same levels of clarity and high dynamic range enhancements that capture the eye-popping color and depth of the wonderful world of Oz.

The vivid, hypnotizing colors and scope of meticulous production and effects design enchant throughout, starting with the simple, such as the cotton candy-colored flora roofs of a Munchkinland village; and the more complex, with the acres of land striped with rows of orange, blue, yellow and purple tulips.

Viewers will marvel at Glinda’s bubble mode of transportation and its pinkish translucent spherical globule with oily reflections; the sea of swarming gold butterflies at her wedding; and Oz’s throne room with a giant bronze-colored animatronic head surrounded by a rainbow of colors.

Admire the details of Oz’s miniature train set with gold tracks; the whiskers on Prince Fiyero’s face; every rivet on the Tin Man’s jowl; the grandiose of the complex fluorescent green illumination of the distant Emerald City at night; and a hair-raising scene of monkeys and the witch illuminated by fire behind them in her castle.

Costuming also and often takes center stage through the sequined dresses of Glinda with sparkling blues, pinks; and the Wicked Witch’s flowing, slightly tattered, creped and serrated cape and her blackened, grayish leathery cloak. The Wicked Witch’s cape has a graceful mind of its own in midflight.

Best extras: As always, start with the solo optional commentary with the director.

Mr. Chu’s passion for the project plays out throughout the nonstop track as he joyfully comments on the screen action in his five-year odyssey of making the films while covering topics such as the plot, the expansive sets, story themes, the complex song sequences and the new music from Mr. Schwartz.

He often responds to the onscreen action while offering words on the 9 million tulips in full bloom, the complexity of animating the witch’s cape and mentioning that paparazzi were using hang gliders to sneakily shoot photos from the set.

As good as this track is, I still miss the unbridled enthusiasm of Ms. Erivo and Ms. Grande in the commentary track from the first film, “Wicked: Part 1.”

Next, a 51-minute overview of the production offers plenty of face time with the director, Ms. Grande, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Goldblum, Ms. Yeoh and key crew.

They separately discuss the plot, character motivations, shooting two movies at the same time, favorite songs, costuming, production design, the wedding scene, makeup effects and the new songs.

The overview includes behind-the-scenes footage that looks at the flying effects of the Wicked Witch, dance numbers, creating the Scarecrow and the Tin man and Glinda the Good versus the Wicked Witch of the West’s fight scene.

A collection of four shorter featurettes (averaging six minutes each) covers the magic of Mr. Chu’s vision, the two new songs and creating the Wicked Witch’s castle in the sky.

Viewers also get a sing-along version of the film with each tune’s words literally bulging from the screen in gold letters with magical dust to cue at-home performers.