"Grease" (1978)

Rating: PG

Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance

Directed By: Randal Kleiser

Written By: Bronte Woodard, Allan Carr

Released: September 15th, 1978 

Runtime: 110 minutes

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Summary:

Experience the friendships, romances and adventures of a group of high school kids in the 1950s. Welcome to the singing and dancing world of "Grease," the most successful movie musical of all time. A wholesome exchange student (Olivia Newton-John) and a leather-clad Danny (John Travolta) have a summer romance, but will it cross clique lines?

Review:

As one of the more famous and loved movie musicals in the world, it’s hard to say anything about the little legend that is Grease. I hadn’t watched this film in years. It’s better than I remember it. 

The songs are irritating, cheesy and will stay in your head for days after, but they’re catchy and fun. The characters are also somewhat annoying, but quirky and generally likable. The whole film is annoyingly endearing. 

The thing I love most about this film is the opening title sequence. It has my favourite song from the whole film. And I actually love the cartoons. The whole film was originally intended to be a cartoon instead of real people, and this title sequence was a way of paying homage to the original artwork designed. I would have loved to see that, I have to say! 

There are loads of great sequences though. Too many iconic moments to recount! The infamous Grease Lightening scene has to be mentioned!! Gwan John Travolta! The 'Summer Lovin' sequence. There’s of course the finale – probably one of my favourite parts but probably not for the reason it’s everyone else’s. Is changing who you are for the one you love really the thing to be telling young people to do? Shouldn’t you be allowed to be yourself with the person you love? Shouldn’t they love you for who you are? Is this ending really as romantic as it’s built up to be? Personally, I’m not convinced on that one, but it makes for a fun and memorable sequence. Also – the car flying off into the air? Really? Where did that come from?? 

It’s got a few storylines going on throughout it. Some of the sequences are a bit thrown in from left field. There is one in particular when Frenchy is being serenaded as she ponders whether or not to stick out her new university course. I think she’s ultimately put off the idea of pursuing and encouraged to go back to secondary school. On one hand put like that, it doesn’t sound like too bad an idea. But I also find that scene very..um…”wtf” for lack of a better phrase! Surely, she should be told to stick it out? Where did this sequence even come from? It just seems very, very strange and out of the blue and nothing really to do with the story. I find it very odd indeed. She’s a great and lovable character but this scene…it puts me at a loss for words. 

This film is a guilty pleasure. You don’t want to love it but deep down you know you do! 

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