Streamed & Screened: Movie and TV Reviews and Interviews · Lee Enterprises

'Wicked,' 'Predator' getting movie fans back into theaters

·34 min·3 clips

Cynthia Erivo reveals hidden details in Wicked's scenes that change the words and expand the story.

This episode of Streamed & Screened features hosts Terry Lipschitz and Bruce Miller reviewing the new film "Wicked" and discussing other recent releases. Terry shares his firsthand experience seeing "Wicked" in a theater filled with fans dressed in costume. He notes actors Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande performed new songs written specifically for this film adaptation. Terry details the extensive merchandise available, including a Grimmerie-shaped popcorn bucket and a light-up Glinda globe. He predicts Ariana Grande could win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Glinda. Terry argues the first "Wicked" film is stronger than this second part, which he feels relies heavily on CGI and includes too many animal characters. He mentions Michelle Yeoh has a significant role but feels she is miscast and holds back in her performance. Bruce then reviews "Predator: Badlands," praising it as a refreshing and enjoyable entry in the franchise. He explains the plot follows a Predator named Deck who must prove himself by hunting the universe's deadliest creature. Bruce highlights that, uniquely, the film has no human characters, focusing instead on synthetics, which shifts audience allegiance to the Predator. He notes Elle Fanning plays dual synthetic roles and the film includes a humorous post-credits scene. Bruce also briefly mentions the dramatic film "Sentimental Value," where Elle Fanning plays a director's daughter in an Oscar-potential role. Terry recommends the Netflix animated film "In Your Dreams," directed by Alex Wu, which is inspired by his childhood dreams and his parents' near-separation. In a clip, Wu discusses drawing from personal life, including a recurring naked-in-a-department-store dream and a childhood teddy bear stained with blood nicknamed "Butthole Bear." The hosts also touch on the upcoming "Rental Family," starring Brendan Fraser as a man hired to pretend to be a husband and father. They briefly discuss Broadway, with Terry describing the musical "Maybe Happy Ending," which features a plot about obsolete robots and a sentient plant. Bruce shares his upcoming chaperoning trip to New York with high school students, which includes seeing "Hadestown" and "Maybe Happy Ending" and features a packed itinerary. The tone is conversational and informal, blending personal anecdotes with entertainment news and reviews. This episode will appeal to movie fans interested in detailed reviews of "Wicked" and "Predator: Badlands" and listeners who enjoy casual industry chatter. Those seeking highly structured criticism or uninterested in Broadway or personal travel stories might find parts less engaging.

As heard by us

A grounded movie chat that moves from Wicked For Good to Sentimental Value and Rental Family.

The discussion starts with Wicked For Good and stays close to what the film changes from the Broadway show. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande each get new songs, and the hosts point out that the movie gives those moments more room to breathe.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want a plainspoken take on Wicked For Good and the movies still trying to pull people back to theaters?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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