Cube Critics

Cube Critics got Glicked this week, catching “Wicked” and “Gladiator II.”“Wicked” is the winter blockbuster everyone’s been anticipating. It’s a vibrant adaptation of the Broadway musical (itself loosely based on a book), telling the story of a young witch finding herself in the Land of Oz. The film is led by the incredible Cynthia Erivo, who carries the movie with a stunning performance, and Ariana Grande, whose presence adds sparkle. The supporting cast shines too, with Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh as a cunning puppet master, and Jeff Goldblum as an entertaining Wizard.“Gladiator II,” meanwhile, pales in comparison to its predecessor. While the performances are strong — Paul Mescal gives a solid lead turn, Pedro Pascal is intriguingly ambiguous and Denzel Washington steals the show as a villain — it struggles with plot depth. Mescal’s character feels underdeveloped, often merely reacting to action scenes, while Denzel electrifies every moment he’s on screen but doesn’t get enough interaction with Mescal t