Grease 2 (1982)

The original Grease really is a classic, this is not. Here's my list of things that took the movie down some notches from the original:The unnecessary high levels of crudeness compared to the original, especially with that innaproprietly dirty song in the classroom "Reproduction". The original Grease may have dealt with a character who spent part of the movie thinking she may be pregnant and a car scene showing the implication of her having sex with her boyfriend and him suddenly exclaiming that his condom ripped. In Grease 2 though, we get a song where everyone is so happily and loudly singing such dirty lyrics which make up most of the song. There's also the suggestive songs "We're gonna score tonight" and "Let's do it for our country". Way more sexual implementations than the first film, and the Grease movies have supposed to have been semi family films with many fans of the first being youths.Next, the ham acting, like it seems like they're copying the first movie's attitudes and then exaggerating them in an overly goofy way. The way the T birds act in this film is a good example. Also, the way they treat new English student Michael, harrasing him even before finding out he fancies one of the T bird's crushes Stephanie (Michelle Phiefer). Then the overly stereo typical way the movie portrayed nerds. Just like in the "Revenge of the nerds" films, they make them talk in that shrill voice wearing those goofy glasses and pocket protectors. Hear the nerd's jokingly shrill voice near the beginning when asking Michael "how long have you been in America?", or where they trip him outside the bus during the opening number, or during "Reproduction" one nerdy guy says in a ridiculous sounding voice "ohh, I think I'm gonna throw up".The songs in this film break out without reason too much, where in the first film, there's a reason for each song. And there were more better songs in the first.Here are the few things in the movie I liked which kept me from giving the film a rating lower than 5:There were a few good songs. I kinda liked the girls with Stephanie singing "A girl for all seasons", a nice catchy tune, the T birds' song "Prowling", and the song "Who's that guy?" while Michael is kickin it up on the motorcycle. The rest of the songs were either sub par or inappropriate.Even though some reviewers don't agree, I kinda liked Phiefer as Stephanie. She was cute, and I always found Phiefer beautiful, even like 12 years later as teacher in "Dangerous minds". I know she had those clothes, those shades, and that bubble gum popping, but that was sorta early 1980s style. Michael was an alright character too, he played his role straight, and was only wanting people to like him. And he wanted to start riding motorcycles, nothing wrong with that.This movie had some good, and definitely had some bad.

This musical follow-up to the smash hit GREASE is an example of how not to make a sequel. It seems like a slavish copy of the first film, complete with the falling in love romantic plotting at the heart of the storyline, the rival gangs, the high school mischief and the like. However, the iconic songs from the first film are gone, replaced by forgettable fluff pieces of music clearly written to recall former glory days. None of them has the same zing or vibrancy that made the ones in the first film such a hit.The acting just isn't of the same calibre either. As a British viewer, I found Maxwell Caulfield's performance wooden, and Michelle Pfeiffer's little better. In fact, Pfeiffer usually seems to disappoint, only seeming to snap out of average-ness on occasion, SCARFACE and STARDUST being two of the times she seems to be making an effort. While I appreciate the attention that has been made to period detail and enthusiasm, but GREASE 2 is a waste of everyone's time.

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'm in my 40s now and I got to re-watch this last night, for the first time in about 11 years or so. First, sorry 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. ...but, you're welcome to your feelings.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 and most of the dialog centers around sexual things...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.As we know,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 and Pink Lady and 'Stephanie Zinone' is the female 'Danny Zuko'. She of course thinks he's a nerd & uninteresting. He meet up with Frenchy (Didi Conn) as he gets off the school bus. 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 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 American voice. He single handedly takes on the T-Birds rival gang outside the bowling alley.Anyway, up to the point of the "Prowlin'" number, it's 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, 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. Tab Hunter & Connie Stevens don't seem to add much to the mix either.The other problem here is, 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 tacky lyrics, is also funny and it's routine works too.In the 2nd half of the film, only, " Prowlin' " - Sung by Adrian Zmed (depending on your opinion of his singing of course) and "You're Girl For All Seasons" are the best.The rest of the songs, "Charades" (sung by Caufield w/ too much echo effect), "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 Stephanie & Michael starting the "We'll Be Together" number, to everyone already coupled up (including them) and slow dancing/walking to the camera. Topped off with some silly 'spinning and/or 'ballet' 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)

For value in this I have to look to Michelle Pfeiffer and no further. To me that is enough to be able to experience this story as very acceptable.There are plenty of aspects of the story that are okay, glamorous even, but without my central focus being on Pfeiffer I would have to brush them off.There are plenty of aspects of the story that I experience as weak, best avoided. I need to fast forward in such as the classroom song Reproduction. Except that some really like that song. Personal taste? In comparison, Blue Crush 2 and Mean Girls 2 are more difficult for me. They lack the simple hook that Pfeiffer gives for appreciating this story, though Mean Girls 2 looks to have had an unusually good script that does not survive the direction of the acting.