Grease
110 minutes,
USA (1978), PG
The world's oldest teenagers sing hideously catchy songs in this 1950s nostalgia-infused story of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, girl wears fetish gear at theme park, etc.
Director:
Grease Review
By Ben Reynolds
The world's oldest teenagers sing hideously catchy songs in this 1950s nostalgia-infused story of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, girl wears fetish gear at theme park, etc.
It's 1958 at Rydell High and director Randall Kleiser serves up an inexplicably well-loved and unbearably rose-tinted version of a time before terrorism, gun crime and reliable hair care products.
John Travolta stars as Danny Zuko, all attitude and wet-look gel, a bad boy (1950s-style of course, so his counter-culture credentials are represented by the occasional cigarette and allusions to the fact he might not have got an 'A' in chemistry) who likes fast cars, faster women, and extremely tight trousers. Travolta brings a whole new definition to the word slick, so much so that you'd be forgiven for thinking the Exxon Valdez had run aground on his head. Oh yes, Grease is indeed the word.
The foil to this leather-clad menace to society is virginal Australian good girl Sandy (Newton-John in a performance so insipid most of her scenes are stolen by her citron-yellow twin set). They fall in love. On a beach. With big waves crashing against rocks. Just like in From Here To Eternity. But without any talent. Or cinematography. Or sex, for that matter.
When Sandy doesn't return to Oz, choosing instead to stay in America and attend Rydell High, the question on absolutely nobody's lips is will these two star-crossed lovers get back together, or will Danny's really very annoying personality get in the way?
John Travolta stars as Danny Zuko, all attitude and wet-look gel, a bad boy (1950s-style of course, so his counter-culture credentials are represented by the occasional cigarette and allusions to the fact he might not have got an 'A' in chemistry) who likes fast cars, faster women, and extremely tight trousers. Travolta brings a whole new definition to the word slick, so much so that you'd be forgiven for thinking the Exxon Valdez had run aground on his head. Oh yes, Grease is indeed the word.
The foil to this leather-clad menace to society is virginal Australian good girl Sandy (Newton-John in a performance so insipid most of her scenes are stolen by her citron-yellow twin set). They fall in love. On a beach. With big waves crashing against rocks. Just like in From Here To Eternity. But without any talent. Or cinematography. Or sex, for that matter.
When Sandy doesn't return to Oz, choosing instead to stay in America and attend Rydell High, the question on absolutely nobody's lips is will these two star-crossed lovers get back together, or will Danny's really very annoying personality get in the way?
"Travolta and Newton-John burn up the screen with all the passion of a potato salad"
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