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Grease, 1978
Australian transplant Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) has a summer fling with a guy named Danny (John Travolta). But when the school year begins, and the two learn they attend the same high school, Sandy is shocked to find that Danny hangs out with a greaser crowd and feels the need to keep up a tough guy persona. As the school year goes on, complete with dance contests and drag races, it's unclear whether good girl Sandy and bad boy Danny can make it as a couple.
A few years ago, my local high school put on a production of Grease that I took my young students to see. At the time, I was like "Yikes!", because it wasn't the best. Now, years later, I owe those high schoolers an apology. They weren't the problem. Grease is the problem.
I will grant the film that at times its particular energy and the musical numbers intersect really well. "Beauty School Drop Out" is really funny. "You're the One That I Want" is really catchy. "Together Forever" is a fun, energetic closing number. It's also a film whose cast is clearly talented as performers. Newton-John and Travolta go all-in on their song and dance numbers. Stockard Channing, DiDi Conn, and Jeff Conaway are really solid and funny in their supporting roles.
I also enjoyed the set design and costumes, which really reflect the 70s looking back at the 50s. The colors pop, the dresses flow.
But while there are several strong elements to this film, the story is a bust. There are various plot lines---romantic dramas, Conn's character dropping out of school, a pregnancy scare, rivalry with another group of greasers---but I felt apathetic to just about all of it. A moment here or there makes an impact. Danny wanting to drop his tough guy act, only to chicken out and play the role despite knowing he's pushing Sandy away. Or Channing's barely concealed fear and vulnerability over an unexpected pregnancy. But for the most part I struggled to care about any of it, and the movie doesn't spend enough time on any of the subplots to really develop the conflicts or their impacts on the kids.
And the kids. The "kids". There's suspension of disbelief, and then there's people old enough to HAVE high school aged children playing teenagers. While this is obviously a really common practice in movies and TV, these actors and actresses really really look like they are in their 20s/30s. It kept jumping out at me through the whole runtime, despite the film's goofy tone and the fact that it's obviously not going for realism.
Fine, but not one I'd be eager to revisit.
Grease, 1978
Australian transplant Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) has a summer fling with a guy named Danny (John Travolta). But when the school year begins, and the two learn they attend the same high school, Sandy is shocked to find that Danny hangs out with a greaser crowd and feels the need to keep up a tough guy persona. As the school year goes on, complete with dance contests and drag races, it's unclear whether good girl Sandy and bad boy Danny can make it as a couple.
A few years ago, my local high school put on a production of Grease that I took my young students to see. At the time, I was like "Yikes!", because it wasn't the best. Now, years later, I owe those high schoolers an apology. They weren't the problem. Grease is the problem.
I will grant the film that at times its particular energy and the musical numbers intersect really well. "Beauty School Drop Out" is really funny. "You're the One That I Want" is really catchy. "Together Forever" is a fun, energetic closing number. It's also a film whose cast is clearly talented as performers. Newton-John and Travolta go all-in on their song and dance numbers. Stockard Channing, DiDi Conn, and Jeff Conaway are really solid and funny in their supporting roles.
I also enjoyed the set design and costumes, which really reflect the 70s looking back at the 50s. The colors pop, the dresses flow.
But while there are several strong elements to this film, the story is a bust. There are various plot lines---romantic dramas, Conn's character dropping out of school, a pregnancy scare, rivalry with another group of greasers---but I felt apathetic to just about all of it. A moment here or there makes an impact. Danny wanting to drop his tough guy act, only to chicken out and play the role despite knowing he's pushing Sandy away. Or Channing's barely concealed fear and vulnerability over an unexpected pregnancy. But for the most part I struggled to care about any of it, and the movie doesn't spend enough time on any of the subplots to really develop the conflicts or their impacts on the kids.
And the kids. The "kids". There's suspension of disbelief, and then there's people old enough to HAVE high school aged children playing teenagers. While this is obviously a really common practice in movies and TV, these actors and actresses really really look like they are in their 20s/30s. It kept jumping out at me through the whole runtime, despite the film's goofy tone and the fact that it's obviously not going for realism.
Fine, but not one I'd be eager to revisit.