I believe this production functions well when presented live, however, I wasn’t particularly impressed by this African-American adaptation of the classic "Wizard of Oz" story. It appeared more focused on delivering a political message than providing enjoyment, and as someone outside of the community it was created for, I felt somewhat excluded from the experience. The narrative centers around an older “Dorothy” (Diana Ross) who pursues her dog through falling snow. Becoming disoriented, she unexpectedly finds herself in a strange place (“Oz”) and must locate the famed wizard to return to Harlem through song. A problem with this version of the story is that Dorothy’s life in New York wasn't particularly pleasant, so after some time spent forming new relationships—including Michael Jackson as the "Scarecrow"—and experiencing life through singing and dancing, I began to question what she hoped to regain by going back. The rest of the storyline generally adheres to the essence of Baum’s original novel, enhanced with some of Quincy Jones' finest work; consequently, there is little sense of danger as Dorothy progresses along the yellow brick road toward a predictably dramatic finale featuring a power ballad. While it’s undeniable that Ross possesses vocal talent, the songs never quite feel infused with personality or character from those involved; they are merely reproductions of the original recordings lacking any unique touches for the cinematic presentation. It isn't an awful film, and it does attempt to explore some creative avenues, but I simply didn't find myself invested in what was happening.

Source on TMDB