Good movie, but not as good as the play on which it was based...

Rating: 6/10 (9 January 2005)

While I agree with most of the posts that "Grease" is a cool movie, there are a few things the writers did to bring it to the silver screen that really distorts, not enhances, Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey;s original vision.
I know that when adapting a play or musical to the screen that it ought not be a word for word copy of the stage version, but I do feel that at least most of the songs should be used, with new ones added by the original composer(s).
To illustrate what I mean, I thought I would type a quick scene synopsis of the stageplay, and for those who are only familiar with the movie, you'll see just how much it was changed from the original play. You'll also notice that songs like "Grease!", "Hopelessly Devoted To You", "Sandy", and "You're The One That I Want" were never in the stage version. Also, the songs that they did retain often were sung by different characters, and they were in the wrong place. To glaring examples is "Greased Lightin'", which is Kennickie's song on stage, and "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" which Rizzo sings to Sandy on stage. Two more points before I share the synopsis. The stage play opens with a class reunion then flashes back to 1959. That would have been easier to execute on film than it is on stage. On stage Danny's gang is called "Burger Palace Boys" not "T-Birds" :
ACT ONE:Scene One:REUNION "Alma Mater"...Eugene, Patty, Ms. Lynch - "Alma Mater Parody"...Burger Palace Boys, Pink Ladies/ Scene Two: CAFETERIA AND SCHOOL STEPS "Summer Nights"...Danny, Sandy, Burger Palace Boys, Pink Ladies -"Those Magic Changes"...Doody, Burger Palace Boys/ Scene Three: PAJAMA PARTY "Freddy, My Love"...Marty, Pink Ladies/ Scene Four: STREET CORNER AT NIGHT "Greased Lighting"...Kennickie, Burger Palace Boys/ Scene Five: SCHOOLYARD "Rydell's Fight Song"....Patty and Sandy/ Scene Six: PARK "Mooning"...Roger and Jan (Roger is known as "Putzie" in the film) "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee...Rizzo "We Go Together"...Burger Palace Boys, Pink Ladies
ACT TWO: Scene One: KID'S HOMES "Shakin' At The High School Hop"...Burger Palace Boys, Pink Ladies - "It's Raining On Prom Night"...Sandy, Off-stage Radio Voice/ Scene Two: SCHOOL GYM "Born To Hand-Jive"...Johnny Casino, Ensemble/ Scene Three: BURGER PALACE "Beauty School Dropout"...Teen Angel, Frenchy, Salon Chorus/ Scene Four: DRIVE-IN "Alone At A Drive-In Movie"...Danny, Burger Palace Boys/ Scene Five: JAN'S PARTY "Rock 'N Roll Party Queen"...Roger and Doody - "There Are Worse Things I Could Do"...Rizzo - "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee Reprise"...Sandy/ Scene Six: BURGER PALACE "All Choked Up"...Danny, Sandy, Burger Palace Boys, Pink Ladies/ FINALE "We Go Together Reprise"...Full Company
So, as you can see, it went through quite a lot of changes to make it to the big screen, and IMHO, I feel the stage version is better, but the movie is good as it's own material. It's a totally different beast than it's stage counterpart.