When I was 14, I saw this movie over summer vacation.
Naturally, having seen Grease and like anyone else who saw it, I didn't think it possible to make a sequel.
Either, 'at all' or to make one that wasn't as good as the first.
Now at that age, I did like the movie and understood it wouldn't star Travolta or Olivia Newton John (who were too busy making so-so or even worse films at the time.)
I got to re-watch this recently, first time in a long while.
First, to all of you who truly love this movie, if you love it that's fine but I honestly can't like it as much as you do.
I feel the characters, some of the songs just don't have the heart that made "Grease" enjoyable for me.
Unlike the first, it seems no one in this movie really cares about anyone but themselves... but, I can't totally dismiss it either. There are some good things in the movie, it's true. Too bad it's all in the first half only.
In the opening, Sandy's cousin Michael Carrington has come to live in the U. S. and attend Rydell High in California like she did.
In this case, he's a 'male' Sandy & Pink Lady 'Stephanie Zinone' is the female 'Danny Zuko'. She of course thinks he's a nerd & uninteresting. He meets up with Frenchy (Didi Conn) as he gets off the school bus.
After this scene, Didi Conn pretty much vanishes.
It's not long before he's fallen for Stephanie, who's getting sick of the immaturity and bossiness of current T-Bird leader Johnny Nogerelli, who's only her boyfriend only because she's a Pink Lady. Michael decides (despite Frenchy's warning) to try and become a T-Bird type himself and win Stephanie's love & respect.
In mere weeks (in movie time) he's practically Evel Knievel on a motorcycle, wearing a leather jacket and disguising his voice in a weird deeper American voice. He single handedly takes on & defeats the T-Birds rival gang outside the bowling alley.
Anyway, up to the point of the " Prowlin' " number, it was a good movie. Then it all falls apart.
Right after that is a somewhat dull scene in a diner with Michael & Stephanie. An even duller song by Caufield, "Charades" with way too much echo effect) the goofy fallout shelter scene and a bit later, the unbelievably embarrassing and badly staged 'Graduation Luau' .
I have to say this, for being a young actress at the time, Pfeiffer's is the best actor of all in the whole film. .... but has no choice but to somehow get through the scene of her and Zmed in the boat in a round swimming pool.
Johnny's actually trying to row his way out, when the rival gang shows up to wreck the place.... and her screaming "Stop yelling at me!"
Another question...why ask Sid Cesar, Dody Goodman, Eve Arden to appear, when they really didn't give them much to do in the film? I feel their talents were wasted here. It's more like they're extras than real characters. As mentioened, even Frenchy disappears after awhile.
Tab Hunter & Connie Stevens don't seem to add much to the mix either. He plays a straight arrow type teacher, she's a fairly promiscuous one.
Again, in the first half, the musical numbers are really good. Which gives the impression it's going to be a great movie.
The opening number, "Back To School Again" (sung in a voice over by The Four Tops) is a great one. The dancing is perfect and the song's exciting.
Other good numbers are Pfeiffer's "Cool Rider" (sort of 1980s Pat Benetar, being sung in 1961, with MTV like moves). Still, one of her best remembered moments in the film.
"Score Tonight" (sung in the bowling alley) is more of a funny song than one to be taken seriously. Still, it works in how it's put together. "Reproduction", despite it's incredibly tacky lyrics, is also funny and it's routine works too.
" Prowlin' " - Sung by Adrian Zmed (depending on your opinion of his singing of course) and "You're Girl For All Seasons" are great too.
The rest of the songs, "Who's That Guy?, "Love Will Turn Back The Hands Of Time", "Do It For Our Country", "Rock-A-Hula Luau" and "We'll Be Together" .... are anywhere from dull to just really uninspired songwriting.
There's even the bad edit from ONLY Stephanie & Michael starting the "We'll Be Together" number, to everyone in less than a second, all coupled up (including them) and slow dancing / walking to the camera. Topped off with some silly 'spinning and/or 'ballet' like routine.
So, all of this, is why I'm rating it 5 stars.
A good jump start in the first half but a 2nd half that gets lost and runs out of gas on the way to the finish line. (END)
Naturally, having seen Grease and like anyone else who saw it, I didn't think it possible to make a sequel.
Either, 'at all' or to make one that wasn't as good as the first.
Now at that age, I did like the movie and understood it wouldn't star Travolta or Olivia Newton John (who were too busy making so-so or even worse films at the time.)
I got to re-watch this recently, first time in a long while.
First, to all of you who truly love this movie, if you love it that's fine but I honestly can't like it as much as you do.
I feel the characters, some of the songs just don't have the heart that made "Grease" enjoyable for me.
Unlike the first, it seems no one in this movie really cares about anyone but themselves... but, I can't totally dismiss it either. There are some good things in the movie, it's true. Too bad it's all in the first half only.
In the opening, Sandy's cousin Michael Carrington has come to live in the U. S. and attend Rydell High in California like she did.
In this case, he's a 'male' Sandy & Pink Lady 'Stephanie Zinone' is the female 'Danny Zuko'. She of course thinks he's a nerd & uninteresting. He meets up with Frenchy (Didi Conn) as he gets off the school bus.
After this scene, Didi Conn pretty much vanishes.
It's not long before he's fallen for Stephanie, who's getting sick of the immaturity and bossiness of current T-Bird leader Johnny Nogerelli, who's only her boyfriend only because she's a Pink Lady. Michael decides (despite Frenchy's warning) to try and become a T-Bird type himself and win Stephanie's love & respect.
In mere weeks (in movie time) he's practically Evel Knievel on a motorcycle, wearing a leather jacket and disguising his voice in a weird deeper American voice. He single handedly takes on & defeats the T-Birds rival gang outside the bowling alley.
Anyway, up to the point of the " Prowlin' " number, it was a good movie. Then it all falls apart.
Right after that is a somewhat dull scene in a diner with Michael & Stephanie. An even duller song by Caufield, "Charades" with way too much echo effect) the goofy fallout shelter scene and a bit later, the unbelievably embarrassing and badly staged 'Graduation Luau' .
I have to say this, for being a young actress at the time, Pfeiffer's is the best actor of all in the whole film. .... but has no choice but to somehow get through the scene of her and Zmed in the boat in a round swimming pool.
Johnny's actually trying to row his way out, when the rival gang shows up to wreck the place.... and her screaming "Stop yelling at me!"
Another question...why ask Sid Cesar, Dody Goodman, Eve Arden to appear, when they really didn't give them much to do in the film? I feel their talents were wasted here. It's more like they're extras than real characters. As mentioened, even Frenchy disappears after awhile.
Tab Hunter & Connie Stevens don't seem to add much to the mix either. He plays a straight arrow type teacher, she's a fairly promiscuous one.
Again, in the first half, the musical numbers are really good. Which gives the impression it's going to be a great movie.
The opening number, "Back To School Again" (sung in a voice over by The Four Tops) is a great one. The dancing is perfect and the song's exciting.
Other good numbers are Pfeiffer's "Cool Rider" (sort of 1980s Pat Benetar, being sung in 1961, with MTV like moves). Still, one of her best remembered moments in the film.
"Score Tonight" (sung in the bowling alley) is more of a funny song than one to be taken seriously. Still, it works in how it's put together. "Reproduction", despite it's incredibly tacky lyrics, is also funny and it's routine works too.
" Prowlin' " - Sung by Adrian Zmed (depending on your opinion of his singing of course) and "You're Girl For All Seasons" are great too.
The rest of the songs, "Who's That Guy?, "Love Will Turn Back The Hands Of Time", "Do It For Our Country", "Rock-A-Hula Luau" and "We'll Be Together" .... are anywhere from dull to just really uninspired songwriting.
There's even the bad edit from ONLY Stephanie & Michael starting the "We'll Be Together" number, to everyone in less than a second, all coupled up (including them) and slow dancing / walking to the camera. Topped off with some silly 'spinning and/or 'ballet' like routine.
So, all of this, is why I'm rating it 5 stars.
A good jump start in the first half but a 2nd half that gets lost and runs out of gas on the way to the finish line. (END)