sometimes funny, but mostly painful

Rating: 2/10 (31 March 2001)

I should admit from the start that I'm not a huge fan of musicals. I was forced to watch this movie by my girlfriend, possibly in retaliation for my having made her watch three Jackie Chan movies in a row. So, take this review for whatever it's worth.
Grease's status as a classic is, for me, quite perplexing. It's just a formulaic love story set in the 50s around a bunch of high school students (most of which, incidentally, appear to be at least in their mid 30s -- some, like Riz, look about 50). Although funny in parts -- the Frankie Avalon song, and the sequence where John Travolta tries to be a jock come to mind -- it largely just consists of stilted, cheesy dialogue and some of the lamest songs imaginable. ("Ramalamadingdong", anyone?) This movie might work if seen as an over-the-top satire, I guess, but that doesn't make it any less painful to watch.
As a mode of vengeance for girlfriends, then, this movie rates a 10. Guys beware.