"Grease"
is the word, if you want a fun and vibrant time at the movies. Based on the
hit Broadway play, Grease would be a bigger hit than anyone could ever
imagine, setting a box office record for a musical back in 1978. Nostalgia
films were red hot in the 1970s, probably because the post Kennedy
assassination climate of the country had been so tumultuous, causing us to
look back at simpler, happier times. The 1950s were especially popular,
thanks to hit shows like "Happy Days" and its ilk, and Grease only made
the popularity skyrocket.
Grease
starts off during summer
vacation just before the senior year, where an Australian teen named Sandy
(Olivia Newton-John, Xanadu)
meets tough American Danny Zuko (John Travolta,
Get Shorty). The two have
a summer fling, but with Sandy going back to Australia, the two lovebirds
thought they'd never see each other again. As fate would have it, Sandy ends
up staying in America, and just so happens to have enrolled in Rydell High
School, the same school as Danny. However, the soft-hearted Danny she knew
from the beach isn't quite the same when he is surrounded by his macho
buddies, and what was once true love becomes an awkward proposition. The
virginal Sandy is befriended by a lady gang called the Pink Ladies, who try to
comfort her, and also draw her out into not being such a goody-two-shoes,
while Danny must do some soul searching, having to choose to impress his
friends or to give it up to be with the girl he still has feelings for.
Although I have always been fascinated
by Grease, watching it countless times as a young lad, I still some
slight mixed feelings about it to this day. The primary reason for this is
that when Travolta and Newton-Jon aren't onscreen, the film isn't nearly as
interesting, and there are many scenes which feature neither. Within the
course of a stage musical, it would make sense to showcase the beauty school
wannabe, Frenchie (Didi Conn, "Benson"), or the on-again, off-again
relationship between Kenickie (Jeff Conaway, "Taxi") and Rizzo (Stockard
Channing, Twilight), as
they would provide opportunity for the main players to get a breather and get
ready for their upcoming scenes. Not that they are bad scenes -- just not as
good as the rest.
Still, when Travolta and Newton-John
are front and center, especially together, there is a definite electric
chemistry that provides some great moments and fond movie memories. Some
other critics have knocked Travolta's singing ability, as well as
Newton-John's acting, and while certainly there are better actors and singers,
it's hard to imagine two other performers doing a better job in the roles.
One thing I noticed seeing this as an
adult that I didn't really recognize in my younger years is the amount of
risqué references and spicy dialogue. While Grease has become a staple
movie for young children to watch, especially young girls, I'm of two feelings
about this. However, I know that I didn't recognize many of the references,
and didn't care, just taking in the song and dance numbers, the hot rod race,
and the overall 1950s ambience.
Another much overlooked aspect of
Grease is the attention to detail all around, not only in the recreation
of the period, but in particular, in what goes on in the background. In no
other movie do I notice how well the extras are in tune with what's going on,
and there is joy in seeing the depth that everyone involved in the movie
provides.
Grease is a nostalgia movie, so
it will hit home with nostalgia buffs more than those who are not. For
today's viewers, there is not only the nostalgia for the 1950s, but also in
the movie itself, as we watch one of the very last non-animated musicals to
dominate the box office. Sure, one can nitpick here and there at the things
that don't quite work, but with so many terrific moments, those are easily
looked over for the overall sense of fun and romanticism. A masterpiece? No,
of course not -- but still one of the most loved and revisited films of all
time. And the soundtrack is even better.
Qwipster's rating:
©2005 Vince Leo
