It actually took me three days to finish this movie because I kept falling asleep, I don’t know if it was because of the movie or because I was tired but I’m pretty sure the movie didn’t help.

The Wiz is an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz that basically changes the fantasy setting to one of real-life Harlem and follows an adult this time, Dorothy, a kindergarten teacher who is unsure about herself, and her dog Toto. I assume the plot stays the same because although I didn’t ever finish the book (I have actually borrowed it from my library after finishing this movie) it did seem to me that many of the plot elements were familiar. The film however doesn’t fully embrace the modern design and theme, the fantastical elements are there, they just look modern and “realistic” now.

Sometimes funny, and occasionally veering into the visually insane territory with it’s distinctly industrial modern but fantasy style, The Wiz however failed to grab me or surprise me on any account at all. I thought the main actress who played Dorothy didn’t do such a good job, because she played her in such a one-note key. Maybe that was because of the script but I found her portrayal of a 24-year Dorothy just annoying. The dog was great tho! And honestly, so was the rest of the cast. I like how the whole film doesn’t really take itself seriously and thus it allows the performances to turn goofy and funny.

The music was pathetic, I haven’t heard a song that will stay with me for more than a few days (and that’s only Ease on Down the Road) and it didn’t really elevate the emotions or whatever was happening in the scene. I think all of these things that I didn’t enjoy about the movie come out because of a lack of charm. It’s no longer Dorothy the child going through a fantastic world but rather an actual adult who is getting transported to the slums and then going to New York City which is the Emerald City of this setting. It’s all very straightforward, basically a dressing of fantasy elements onto Black America instead of adapting itself to it. Which is why the flying monkeys have bikes now

It’s also a huge film, I think it’s 2 hours and 14 minutes and that’s a lot of time to spend with a property that we are very very familiar with and not do something actually cool with it.

Overral: 5/10, some of the things I really enjoyed were the ridiculous performances, the visual identity of the film and that it did make me laugh due to its silliness a few times haha. Mostly though I was just really uninterested and bored