Grease - Review

'Grease' is a musical made in 70's about the 50's and it normally gets only two different reactions. Either people say that it is the best movie ever made, or a huge pile of garbage. Growing up, I always loved this movie. All the songs, especially 'Greased Lightning' were great and it was extremely funny. Watching it again, I did find myself singing along to some songs like 'Summer Nights' and 'You're The One I Want' and I also found myself laughing at the jokes. Side note, I also found it interesting how similar teenagers back then talked with teenagers today. Yeah sure, teenagers back then weren't vaping on hover boards, checking their snapchat while dabbing, but what they talk about and how they act is all pretty similar. However, this time watching it, I noticed something. There are four songs in this movie where I actually fast-forwarded past them. Strange thing is, I did it without hesitation which made me remember something, I would fast-forward those songs as a kid too. Every time I watched Grease, I fast-forwarded through the songs of Danny stranded at the Drive-In, Sandy outside of the Frenchie's house, Rizzo's song and the most pointless song in any musical, 'Beauty School Drop Out'. I'm sorry, but it completely brings the movie to a halt. Then I started to realize why people did not like this movie. Take out all the musical numbers and this movie is just your average teenage comedy. Add in a couple songs (the good ones) and you have a pretty enjoyable flick. Add in all the songs, and you have a picture that will make musical theatre students drop down to their knees and worship and your average moviegoer goes... why am I watching this. Speaking of which, there are lots of little subplots in this movie where I thought to myself, why is this even here? The side-plot of Rizzo and Kenickie, the side-plot of the Thunderbirds and the Scorpions with the race at Thunder Road all seemed liked good places the story could go if they had invested more time in them as opposed to simply singing one song about it. Lastly the ending, SPOILER ALERT, it's dumb. Yep, I said it. So the message of the story is, "Ladies, are you Ms. Goodie-Two-Shoes wanting Mr. Bad Boy to fall in love with you? Simply buy a slutty outfit, get a makeover, take up smoking and there you go." Yeah, a little too simple if you ask me. I know this sounds like I am hating on this movie, which I am, but I still really like it. The songs that do work are excellent, you do end up laughing out loud and many parts and it is entertaining, even though the story is pretty non-existent. Interesting theory I heard was that this is all in Sandy's head before she dies. WHAT?! Hear me out. She meets Danny in Australia over the summertime, drowns, and has a premonition in her head before she dies of all these circumstances. Did the filmmakers intend this? Probably not. Did someone have way too much time on their hands? Absolutely. If you like musicals, then you'll like this movie. If you don't... well, tough call. Enter at your own risk my musical hating friends.