--Grease 2
Maybe because Jeff is watching early 1980's movies, I watched one, too, last night. Believe it or not, I didn't
really care for the first Grease movie, though I had known about and listened to the stage musical version
for many years before that. It was also a movie I was exposed to, for various reasons, so much that I just
got really tired of it.
I know this one was really panned when it cam out and sank, but it amused me enough that I enjoyed myself watching
it last night. The songs are pretty entertaining and the cast is giving it their all. If one doesn't know, Michelle Pfeiffer is
the lead, along with Maxwell Caulfield. Michelle came out of it unscathed, but Maxwell didn't fare so well in his career
right after this film. I don't know why. Maybe he and Michael Pare should have done a love story together!
There's a raft of 50's stars in it, to keep one's interest, too, like Eve Arden, Sid Caesar and Tab Hunter. The plot is somewhat
like the reverse of the first Grease. A new student from overseas, this time Maxwell from Britain instead of Olivia from Australia,
catches the eye of the opposite sex and sparks ignite. I'd always thought this sequel was still in the 1950's, so I was surprised
it takes place in 1961. The first one was such a megahit I don't think this ever had a chance, even though the critics concensus
on RT is: "Grease 2 is undeniably stocked with solid songs and well-choreographed dance sequences, but there's no getting around
the fact that it's a blatant retread of its far more entertaining predecessor."
If one might recall, the critics didn't really like the 1st one, either, but it was such a success, your thumbs go up more than down.
