Good musical, attractive young cast, some wit

Rating: 7/10 (7 February 2005)

We called greasers "hard rocks" in London, Ont. in the early sixties. We didn't want to be them, but they had reputations as being tough, cruising in their cars, smoking cigs and hanging with "easy" women. This movie catches the essence of that white, suburban, pre-Beatle era in a nice way, and includes some humorous stereotypes and some great period music. There's lots of posturing, high school humour and a great musical number featuring the King of Beach-Blanket Music, Frankie Avalon. Young Stockard Channing, looking the same but younger, provides some "bad girl" bite and spite to offset the bland Olivia Newton-John. Travolta reprises his Vinnie Barbarino role from "Welcome Back, Kotter" and sings and dances adequately.