Ben Shapiro tore into Hollywood’s latest attempt to rewrite classic stories with woke messaging. The conservative commentator blasted the new “Wicked: For Good” trailer for pushing identity politics into the beloved Wizard of Oz universe. He called out the film’s heavy-handed focus on race and disability instead of telling a compelling story.
Shapiro slammed the movie’s central message that green-skinned Elphaba and her wheelchair-bound sister are victims of “systemic oppression.” He argued this approach ruins the fantasy world’s magic by forcing modern political debates into children’s entertainment. The commentator warned parents that Hollywood keeps using family films to push radical ideologies.
The Daily Wire host mocked the casting of 30-something actors playing teenage characters. He compared it to Hollywood’s obsession with woke reboots over original storytelling. Shapiro joked that middle-aged stars pretending to be kids shows how desperate studios are to cash in on existing franchises instead of creating new ones.
Shapiro acknowledged the movie’s visual style but said “flashy camerawork can’t hide rotten politics.” He praised director Jon Chu’s technical skills while trashing the script’s moral confusion. The commentator compared it to other failed reboots that prioritized messaging over quality storytelling.
The review highlighted Hollywood’s hypocrisy in claiming to champion diversity while recycling the same old stories. Shapiro noted the film’s animal rights subplot feels forced and preachy. He accused writers of using cartoon characters to lecture audiences instead of entertaining them.
Shapiro warned conservatives this film represents a broader trend in entertainment. He said even visually impressive projects now carry anti-traditional values propaganda. The commentator urged families to vote with their wallets against “message-first filmmaking.”
The critic admitted some musical numbers work but called them exceptions in a flawed product. He said talented performers get wasted on material that prioritizes activism over artistry. Shapiro concluded the film proves Hollywood still doesn’t understand middle America’s values.
This scathing review ends with a call for studios to respect audiences instead of lecturing them. Shapiro positioned the film as another example of coastal elites pushing agendas on heartland families. His takedown reinforces conservative concerns about woke ideology corrupting popular culture.