Believe The Hype.....Grease Is STILL The Word!!

Rating: 10/10 (24 October 2005)

There's nothing much one can add to the plaudits already reaped by the highest grossing musical in cinematic history because "Grease" truly is a remarkable movie. The way it encapsulates a "feel good" aura to enthral the audience isn't something that happens very often, especially when the movie offers only a very simplistic script acted out by (back then) relatively unknown performers. In spite of the fact the movie version is much tamer than the original stage adaptation (something that was slightly more violent and superfluous with it's sexual innuendos - both of which have been lost in future stage productions since the release of the movie), "Grease" has all the right ingredients to justify the phenomenal success it's achieved over the years.
The movie's main plot is the basic "boy meets girl/boy loses girl/boy tries to change to win girl back" tale - a storyline that's not exactly anomalous to Hollywood - nonetheless, it's the kind of plot that most can relate to because we've all been in Danny or Sandy's situation one time or another during our lives. And it's ingredients such as that which make this movie 'believable'. Moreover, "Grease" epitomises the teenage angst experienced by the characters so well (the sub-plots of expressing teenage lust, being socially accepted and fears of making the transition into adulthood are prime examples of why the story of "Grease" is as relevant today as it was in the 50s when it was set, and in the 70s when it was written.)
Be that as it may, "Grease" wasn't meant to be a thought-provoking movie, and the emphasis is most definitely the on fun factor offered. It is comedic more than anything else, but there are several tender moments portrayed mainly through the songs, "Hopelessly Devoted To You", "Sandy" and "There Are Worse Things I Can Do" which are as well-remembered as any of the goofiness displayed by the movie's misfits.
In the face of the fact a very simple script doesn't necessarily make a great movie, I'm sure there would be no legacy attached to "Grease" if it wasn't for the songs included on the soundtrack. Those were the catalyst to combine all the essential ingredients in the script to really make "Grease" shine. Upon reflection, it's quite bemusing that a movie (or story) set in the 50s didn't have more quintessential rock n' roll songs featured (sans the contributions from the 50s revivalists, 'Sha-Na-Na", of course). But the ones used have quite rightly become 'sing-a-long' classics nevertheless. From the disco-influenced title track, the feel-good "Summer Nights" and "You're The One That I Want", and the high-energy "Greased Lightning" (not to mention the ballads that reflected the movie's more tender moments), what you have is a soundtrack that enraptures feelings that not even the best script ever written could garner. So praise for the success of this movie should surely also be credited to Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey, John Farrar, Louis St. Louis and Barry Gibb for their brilliant musical offerings.
The on-screen chemistry between John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John is complimented perfectly by the strong supporting actors, Jeff Conaway (Kenickie) and Stockard Channing (Rizzo) - two characters who, in my opinion, could've easily made this a great movie without the insertion of the Danny & Sandy characters. However, I'm not so sure that, in reality, the "T Birds" who were supposed to epitomise all things "cool" would've allowed Doody, Sonny & Putzie to join their gang, but it did explain the unwritten "T-Bird" code that their members had to date the "Pink Ladies" (which, in turn, explained the inclusion of the lesser members of the girl gang). However, that's one flaw to be easily overlooked in a movie that's not supposed to be taken seriously, I guess. Saying that, what can't be overlooked is the fact some of the actors playing 'teenagers' looked too old to be doing so. Michael Tucci (Sonny) and Annette Charles (Cha-Cha) appeared to look way beyond their teenage years.
The rest of the supporting cast played their roles ever so well; from the comedic performances of screen veterans like Eve Arden (Principal McGee), Sid Caesar (Couch Calhoun), Dody Goodman (Blanche), Alice Ghostley (Mrs Murdock) and Edd Byrnes (Vince Fontaine); the menacing leader of the rival Scorpions gang, Leo (the late Dennis C Stewart); the obnoxious and not-so-innocent Patty Simcox (Susan Buckner); the ultimate 'high school jock' - and for a while, Sandy's love interest, Tom Chishum (Lorenzo Lamas); the one guy that epitomised the term 'geek', Eugene (Eddie Deezen); and Barry Pearl, Michael Tucci, Kelly Ward (the "T-Birds") and Didi Conn, Jamie Donelly and Dinah Manoff (The "Pink Ladies").
"Grease" isn't above criticism though, and there were several things that could've either been elaborated on more or removed to make the story better. I'd have liked to have seen how Danny & Sandy met (I felt his was too rushed at the beginning of the movie); the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"-inspired ending removed the movie's credibility; the "dream sequence" with Frenchy and the Teen Angel was just too boring; and the 'Thunder Road' scene would've been more plausible if the director hadn't tried to copy a scene from "Rebel Without A Cause". Still, those are all minor gripes in an otherwise brilliant movie.
All in all, if you haven't seen the movie - and despite my spoilers, the outcome of "Grease" is as predictable as night following day - all I can say is I recommend you to do so. Watch it, and understand why this movie has achieved so much success and positive reviews over the years. There's also "Grease 2", but please, watch the sequel with caution as it's nothing.let me say that again..it's nothing like the original.