IMDb top 250: -
Rating 9/10
Director: Randal Kleiser
Writers: Bronte Woodard, Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey & Allan Carr
Starring: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing & Jeff Conaway
"Why, this car could be systematic, / hydromatic, ultramatic / Why, it could be greased lightning"
Grease is the story of good girl Sandy Olsson and local bad boy Danny Zucko, who meet on the beach during the summer of 1959 and fall in love. With the summer over and Sandy going back to Australia, she fears she will never see Danny again. After her parents change their mind about going back to Australia, Sandy joins Rydell High School and is met by an all together different Danny Zucko than the one she met on the beach. Teaming up with the Pink Ladies Sandy tries to rekindle her love with the leader of the T-Birds.
Grease is one of my favourite movies, I was brought up watching this movie; and even though I've seen it thousands of times whenever it's on the television I still stop and watch. Grease has in my opinion some of the best and memorable musical numbers, ever! From "Summer Nights" to "You're The One That I Want" the film is chock full of great songs. Everybody at one point in their life has been at a party/disco where a song from Grease has been played, even today some 35 years after the film was released. Grease is also one of those movies that people can quote word for word, if you say a line from the movie, people will know exactly what film it's from and who said it.
Sometimes in musicals when the actors/characters burst into song, it can feel a little forced and cringey but in Grease it works. The transitions from spoken performance into song are flawless and every song works, there are so many musicals where songs feel like they've been shoe-horned in. And whilst the songs are narrative and explain the characters current emotions, they never feel like it's just dialogue put to a bit of music, they're fully rounded excellent songs. The musical numbers and choreography are great, never more so than in "Grease Lightning" and "We Go Together" routines.
The cast of Grease are great. John Travolta and Olivia-Newton John are both at their sexiest in this movie and they have great vocals. Olivia doing her best work on "Hopelessly Devoted to You" whilst John Travolta shines with "Sandy". John Travolta again proving he is an excellent dancer during his dance segment at the School Dance to "Hand Jive". My favourite performance and character comes from Stockard Channing. I love Rizzo, always have, and whilst none of the other performances are very layered I feel Stockard really breathes life into the character of Rizzo. Her 2 performance numbers are my absolute favourite, especially "There Are Worse Thing I Could Do", I can hear the pain in her voice!
I've never met anyone yet who hasn't seen Grease, but if you're one of the few who haven't, what are you waiting for! It's a classic!!
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