Wicked: For Good (in theaters)

It’s a wonderful return to Oz.

If you liked last year’s “Wicked,” you absolutely have to see “Wicked: For Good.” A majestic, sweeping conclusion to the story, the movie is full of big twists, great music, and darker but still powerful visuals. Good memories of both the first movie and “The Wizard of Oz” are extremely important – the movie takes the knowledge for granted – and it really helps if you know the plot of the original musical. But for those who do the movie is deeply satisfying, especially if you watch closely to pick up on all the nuances the actors are careful to deliver. There’s plenty of drama here, but there’s also plenty of depth. 

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo both deliver incredible performances, building off everything that came before in a powerful way. Jonathan Bailey gets more of a chance to act in this one, and he delivers beautifully. This is a movie where it pays to watch everyone’s expressions. 

Musically the cast is just as good as ever, particularly when the movie affords them the opportunity to sing together. The new songs aren’t quite as strong as the fantastic originals, but they do feel unexpectedly relevant to our current political climate. 

Mostly, though, you won’t be thinking about anything but the world of the story. Once you’ve come back to Oz, you may not want to leave again. 

Grade: Three and a half stars

Running Man (in theaters)

Whether you like the new “Running Man” depends on what you want out of it. 

If you’re looking for a bright, shiny action movie, it’s pretty darn good. Director Edgar Wright keeps the energy up throughout, mixing humor with genuine danger. Glen Powell is totally believable as an action lead, toning down his charm and snark while also giving the character a real, necessary anger. The supporting cast is all interesting in their own ways, with some lighting up the screen even though others aren’t given nearly enough to do. 

But if you’re looking for some thematic depth to this all-too-relevant dystopia, it’s more of a struggle. A lot of the awful-future elements are pretty much happening right now, particularly the deepfake videos used to turn the public against Powell’s character, but Wright doesn’t seem to have anything to say about them. They’re merely plot details, color for the shiny action movie, and it robs the story of a lot of its power. Wright also avoids anything truly dark in this supposed dystopia, unlike the original King short story, making the movie more cheerful in some ways than real life at the moment. 

Whichever version of the movie you’re hoping for, it’ll probably be Powell and the supporting cast that keeps the bulk of your attention. Lee Pace is wasted, though in his few moments he proves once again how good at cold and creepy he is. Katy M. O’Brian is fantastic in her equally brief time onscreen.

The brightest star here, though, is Coleman Domingo. In his best moments he outshines Powell, a huckster showman who could sell the world if given the opportunity. It’s a character we’ve seen plenty of times before, but Domingo’s version is one you’ll remember.

Grade: Two and a half stars

Jenniffer Wardell is an award-winning movie critic and member of the Denver Film Critics Society and the Utah Film Critics Association. Drop her a line at [email protected].