VHS : Grease 2

Rating: - Some Movies Shouldn't Have Sequels
When you take into consideration that the original "Grease" movie was such a phenomenal success with movie-going audiences the world over, is it any surprise that the sequel to one of the highest grossing musicals in cinematic history, fell short of matching or -heaven forbid- even surpassing the achievement of it's predecessor? Of course it wasn't a surprise, and I'm sure that upon it's general release, there were one or two executives at Paramount Pictures that wished they hadn't even bothered making the movie in the first place - and the reason for that being is simply: some movies should be left to bask in their own glory without being bastardised and diluted with one or more sequels. "Grease 2" is one such example.

Whether you want to compare "Grease 2" with the original or take an unbiased view and appraise it on it's own, nothing can hide the fact this really is a terrible movie. So where did "Grease 2" go wrong? For one, the entire movie script is more or less a rehash of the original (albeit in some instances, the male/female roles have been reversed to disassociate this from being a straight remake). Take the main love angles in both movies for example: in the first movie, you had the cool kid (Travolta) falling for the "square" new-kid-in-town girl (Newton-John), and in the sequel, it's the same, but the roles are gender reversed. Originality seemed lost on the script-writers, and this was further evident during the whole movie, especially during the end-of-school-year carnival where the 'square' kid (Michael) is finally accepted - a scene that's blatantly ripped off from the original "Grease".

The original "Grease" cast never won awards for their acting abilities, but compared to those relative unknowns (back in 1982) who secured the leading roles in the sequel, they make John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John seem like Oscar winners because their acting abilities ranged from 'acceptable' to 'dire', with the latter description perfectly summing up the majority of the cast of "Grease 2". Moreover, the injection of old, supporting actors from the first movie (Frenchy and Eugene especially) seemed questionable too. Granted, "teachers" were understandable returnees, but Frenchy returning to Rydell High two years after she left to supposedly enter 'beauty school' (and dropped out almost immediately as her character explained in the first movie) and, like the Eugene character, had already graduated. Why were they even in the movie, other than to make an association between the two films? To give the casting people credit, at least for the second movie they hired actors who, at least, looked like teenagers which couldn't be said about the first "Grease".

Whereas the soundtrack is what the original will be best remembered for, the songs used in "Grease 2" were a lot to be desired. With the exception of the terrific opening number ("Back To School Again" performed by the Four Tops) and "Who's That Guy?" (with the former being the best song from both movies IMO), the quality of the songs matched the acting ability on show. "Prowlin'", "Do It For Our Country" and "Reproduction" were all appalling and the worst on offer; "Cool Rider" and the sexual innuendo laced, "Score Tonight" were passable as songs (even if the accompanying dance scenes were so bad, they were actually hilarious - see Ms Pfeiffer strut to "Cool Rider" and you'll see what I mean); "Charades" is actually a lovely ballad, or it would've been if someone other than Mr Caulfield had sung it, yet it was quite 'dark' and featured in something of a noir-ish scene that didn't really belong in the movie. The rest of this rather short soundtrack is made up with what can only be described as uninteresting fillers.

As for the characters themselves, it seems the 'Pink Ladies' have become the most dominant gang at Rydell High because those characters are the most strongest, especially the roles of Stephanie (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Paulette (Lorna Luft). Despite the fact that the 'T-Birds' epitomised everything "cool" in the original, they seem to have turned into a group of geeks in this movie. Adrian Zmed ("Johnny") and Christopher McDonald ("Goose") are certainly no John Travolta and Jeff Conaway, neither were their characters. Didi Conn reprised the exact same role she had in the first movie as Frenchy, someone present in the movie to introduce the "new kid" to the ways of the school and what it took to be 'cool'. Unfortunately, in "Grease 2", we'd seen it all before and her character seemed 'tired'. To their credit, Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield played their characters well, and unlike the majority of the cast, they did seem 'believable'. Pfeiffer, in the role of the street smart, hard-as-nails head of the 'Pink Ladies' and Caulfield, the stereotypical upper class British teenager (of 1961) did have something of an on-screen chemistry, but were sadly let down by their supporting actors.

It really is unfair to compare this movie with the original, but it is a sequel after all - a movie with more than just a few connections to the first, so it's understandable that's the view people will have. In fact, there's no comparison at all. The original was great.... this movie isn't. It really is as simple as that.

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Rating: - A witty, addictive film that's utterly lovable
Serious critics and Grease fans, stop getting your knickers in a twist. You're making fools of yourselves and entirely missing the point of this witty, clever film that shows the school system more realistically than any film I've seen.

What Grease 2 manages to do so well is be witty, sneakily subversive and fabulously tongue in cheek. The songs are snappy, tuneful and filled with funny touches and great acting. It plays on everyone's fears and hopes at school, so the T-Birds aren't really that cool, nor the Pink Ladies for that matter, but they go along merrily in their own world while the rest of the school just doesn't really care. Actually, the rest of the school are pretty damn cool anyway. And was I really the only one who wanted to punch the original Grease cast for making legions of karaoke pundits go all wistful and think "This could be me!" Grease 2 songs are far too good for karaoke.

It's fast, cheery and great fun - easily up there with The Breakfast Club or Ferris Bueller, only with more wit. Before you swallow your tongue in disapproval, check this out - you're guaranteed to surprise yourself.

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Rating: - Don't compare just see it for it is
First of all i loved Grease 2. True it wasn't a great film and honestly I did prefer the original but as a film on its own it isnt as bad as it was made out to be.

A lot of the attraction towards Grease 2 was the complete cheesiness of the songs and how it fails to take itself seriously. With songs entitled 'Reproduction' and 'Score Tonight' how could you really take it seriously.

The romantic leads are sweet and definately NOT Danny and Sandy but I don't even think they are trying to be. Some of the characters were bordering on pantomime but that just adds to the hilarity of it.

My faveourite song 'Cool Rider' probably isnt the best vocal, but its the words and rock beat that i love so much.

It is said that when Grease 2 is mentioned to Pfieffer now, she cringes and the thought, but I think that she should be proud of such an accomplishment and how far she has come since.

So I say if you want a feel good, easy going movie then BUY IT NOW

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Rating: - BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL
What a great film. Fell in love with it years ago, and have always prefered it to the mundane and ridiculous original featuring 30 year old teenagers! Plus Lewis is fit!

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Rating: - Great!
This film is as good, if not better than the first! It tells a similar story, Michael falls for Stephanie, the leader of the Pink Ladies and realises that he will have to change, so he buys a motorbike and becomes a "cool rider". The film has some great songs in it, and although is counted as a complete 'flop', it's really not that bad, i love it!