Grease 2 [DVD] [1982] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

People say you shouldn't compare this to Grease; you've got to judge Grease 2 on its own merits (it stinks whichever way you look at it, by the way). How can you not compare this to Grease? If they didn't want me to compare this to Grease, they wouldn't have called it Grease 2, they wouldn't have taken me back to Rydell High, they wouldn't have resurrected characters like Principal McGee, Coach Calhoun, and Frenchie, they wouldn't have passed off this new kid from England as Sandy's cousin, and they surely wouldn't have thrown me back amongst the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds. Speaking of the T-Birds, it hurts to see how far they fell in a mere two years (the movie is set in 1961, two years after Grease). Johnny (Adrian Zmed) and Goose (Christopher McDonald) are made in the image of Danny and Kenickie, but they just don't measure up. These new T-Birds turn tail and run whenever Crater-face and his gang of greasers come roaring up.

Everything is reversed in this movie, especially the central plot. Here you have a new, goody-goody male student having to transform himself into something "bad" in order to win over the less than sophisticated girl. Maxwell Caulfield isn't all that bad as Michael Carrington, but the guy's got as much charisma as a toasted cheese sandwich. Stephanie (Michelle Pfeiffer) won't give him the time of day - even if she did, the Pink Lady code wouldn't let her date him. And so it is that Michael decides to transform himself into T-Bird material. Once he has a motorcycle and learns how to ride it, he runs circles around the greasers and wins Stephanie's heart - but only as Mr. Excitement in goggles, not as himself. What will happen when she finds out her danger man is Michael?

I won't even get into the whole subject of the big talent show, except to question why kids who see themselves as cool not only make fools of themselves willingly, but begin practicing some eight months before the actual show. I will get into the subject of the music, though. I don't know what this music is; it isn't 50's music, and it isn't 60's music. It's horrible, and all the dance numbers that go along with it are even more horrible.

Count me among the untold number of Grease fans who refuse to recognize Grease 2 as a sequel. I'm going to have to watch the original again - and soon - just to reestablish a sense of equilibrium in my life.

Michael Carrington, a straight A student from England, transfers to Rydell High and is immediately put into the 'nerd' category and the T-Birds brand him 'Shakesphere'. He is smart, extremely uncool and very shy.

Stephenie, the leader of the Pink ladies has come back from the summer holidays having broke up with Johnny, the T-Birds leader, having grown out of him. Johnny is clearly still interested in Stephanie but she doesn't want to know. Her loyalty to the Birds has faltered as she wants someone even cooler.

First day back Stephanie sees the Birds picking on Michael and defends him, from that moment on Michael vows to become a T-Bird and win her heart.

So there is the story, but what Grease is famous for is the memorable songs, and this film has them! There are 12 songs on the soundtrack and there isn't one that I really skip. The music has changed since the first Grease as it was made in the decade of the 80's. Its early 80's rock that you are getting yourself into for the most part. You have the romanitc songs (Turn Back The Hands Of Time, We'll Be Together, Charades), the heavy rock songs (Cool Rider, Who's That Guy), the happy-go-dancing songs (Score Tonight, Back To School), the sweet songs (Love For All Seasons) and the down right silly songs (Reproduction, Prowlin'). These are all songs that stick in your mind and just can't stop singing them to yourself. All the songs are quality and stand on their own. Absolutely brilliant soundtrack.

What would Grease be without the classic characters? We have the T-Birds who are actually not cool in any way or form, its only the leader (Johnny) who is 'cool', the others just follow his lead. Johnny is a classic character who makes you laugh over and over again, its hilarious whenever he loses his cool. Frenchy unfortunately doesn't have a big part in the film but nethertheless she is there. The coach is back but you only see him twice if that. Mrs Mcgee and Blanche are also back making quite a funny duo as they did last time. Two new teachers; a female who always has low cut tops on and pays $500 for her hair (according to the cheer leading twins). She falls for the unlikely nerdy substitute teacher, Mr Stewart, who teaches the immortal 'Reproduction' lesson. The new Pink ladies have very distinctive characters, one of them is obsessed with her nose and doesnt come into it much (Rhonda), Paulette is somewhat the second leader in my view who has a crush on Johnny, she does have her own intentions but she does care for her friends; nothing like Riz. Sharon is a bubbly flirty character who is the prey of one of the T-Birds (Louis) to get into bed. Then there is Dolores, Paulettes little sister who isn't a Pink lady but a pink lady mascot, she looks about 12, mouthy and carries a skate board everywhere.

The performances were actually very good in my humble opinion, especially Max Caulfield who seemed very uncomfortable... and that is the way Michael is supposed to be! He wins me over with those puppy innocent eyes, then when he is the mysterious guy he acts completely cool. Max was a triumph. His voice isn't the best thing in the world but he didn't sing that much anyway. Michelle Pfhieffer was wonderful as an actress and singer. When you hear her sing you won't need to wonder why Andrew Lloyd Webber wanted her as Evita in his film musical and NOT Madonna. She shines in 'Cool Rider'. The whole cast was believable. I normally sit back in films and watch peoples performances and dig at them but I didnt do that at all in this movie.

This film has a lot of negative feedback as every one compares it to the Original Grease. My opinion isnt common, preferring this one to the original, therefore my advice to you is to forget the first movie when watching this one. It needs a chance!