DVD Reviews

The Wiz – Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Dec 1, 2010, 16:41 GMT

Ease on down the yellow-brick road with The Wiz, starring superstars Diana Ross and Michael Jackson! Relive all of the magic of this beloved musical when Dorothy is whisked away to the enchanting wonderland of Oz, where she encounters the Scarecrow, the Tinman and the Lion. The Wiz features spectacular musical numbers from legendary producer Quincy Jones and an all-star cast, including Lena Horne, Richard Pryor, Nipsey Russell and Ted ...more

Remaking the Wizard of Oz is probably not a good idea, but rumors swirl that Hollywood is going to try again. However, when the film recreates a successful stage show you’d think that you had a fighting chance.

Dorothy (Diana Ross) lives in Harlem with her Aunt Em (Theresa Merritt) and Uncle Henry (Stanley Greene). Dorothy is shy and introverted and is worrying if she should take a teaching job offered to her. Em encourages her, but she doesn’t seem to want to take the opportunity out of fear of failure.

Dorothy’s cleaning up after a big dinner party at her aunt’s when her dog Toto dashes out into the streets. She runs after Toto and finds herself caught up in a snowstorm. Glenda the Good Witch (Lena Horne) magically transports Dorothy and Toto to the magical Land of Oz.

When she crashes through an “Oz” sign on her entry the large piece falls on and kills Evermean, the Wicked Witch of the East. Dorothy finds herself in the land of the Munchkins who had been transformed into graffiti by Evermean. Her death frees them and they joyously await the return of Miss One (Thelma Carpenter), the good Witch of the North, who awards Dorothy with Evermean’s magical silver slippers.

All Dorothy wants is to go back home. Miss One encourages Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to get to the Emerald City and the “Wiz” whose magical powers may be able to get her back to Harlem.

Along the way she runs into the Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell), and the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross). When they do reach the Wizard (Richard Pryor) the only way he’ll help them is if they kill Evillene (Mabel King), the Witched Witch of the West.

It really seemed like it should’ve been a successful project. The Wiz was a successful Broadway adaptation of the Wizard of Oz that featured an African American cast. It went on to win seven Tonys, including Best Musical.

Motown Productions got behind the call to make the Broadway show into a film. Berry Gordy wanted to cast the young actress who originated the role on Broadway, but Diana Ross was interested in playing the part.

Gordy thought she was too old and declined. Ross wasn’t taking no for an answer and went to Universal and arranged their participation on the guarantee that they’d produce the movie. So Ross ended up in the role and got her way… but she was still too old. It didn’t help that her Dorothy is glum and cries most of the time, no matter how good her singing voice.

Tellingly it was the last time Ross would make a film appearance. Even with a pro like Sidney Lumet in the director’s chair, the kooky screenplay by Joel Schumacher and Ross’ insistent miscasting bring the whole house down on themselves. Even the Wicked Witch feels like an afterthought and only brought in for a short scene, not the menace of the 1939 film.

There are some good things. Jackson plays the scarecrow well and dances his heart out (Ross looks very much like him before his many surgeries). Russell has some funny lines and Ross is a dignified urban cowardly lion (he was a holdover from the Broadway show). The good can’t outweigh the problems and the whole house of cards comes falling down under the two hour running time.

The Wiz is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (1.85:1). The only special feature is the 12 minute, vintage “Wiz on down the Road” (standard definition).

The Wiz just didn’t work and maybe the star has herself to blame. The disc does look good, but the movie doesn’t have the charm that it could’ve had.