Grease return of the movie musical
There’s John Travolta on sereen, larmenting over his lost summer love. Suddenly, he bursts into song, and his leatherelad gang keeps time by swaying to the music.
Across the way, Olivia Newton-John is reminiscing about her romance. She, too, begins singing, and her “Pink Lady” sidekicks commence choreographed cavorting to the lyrics.
“West Side Story” flashes into mind, and then the thoughts are even more distant, of Astaire, Kelly, Rogers, Keel and Gaynor.
Could it be possible in 1978? A genuine movie musical? Playing to a full house? At a matinee?
It’s not only possible, it’s also true. “Grease” is the first musical box office success since “The Sound Of Music,” and as such, it’s a refreshing summer experience.
The fact that “Grease” is arriving just as the 50s fad seems to be be ebbing isn’t hurting it at all. It’s not only attracting fans of the original “Grease,” but also fans of musicals in general, and especially fans of John Travolta, the young ones who couldn’t see “Saturday Night Fever” because of its “R” rating.
To say that “Grease” is flawed is an understatement, but the movie ensily compensates for those flaws with some good music, a good acting performance by Stockard Channing, a good looking performance by Olivia Newton-John, and a stellar dancing performance by John Travolta.
Never mind that Sid Caesar, Eve Arden and Ed Byrnes are wasted, or even that Alice Ghostley’s role seems to have been chopped in the editing room. It doesn’t even matter that some of the phrases weren’t around in the 50s, or that “Grease” has been moved to California as a setting. Those problems could flatten most movies, but “Grease” survives, almost without a scratch.
Travolta dominates this film as much as he did the “Fever,” but the script dictates a lesser emphasis on acting. Fortunately, movie version of “Grease” expands the dance sequences, and here Travolta is absolutely incredible.
The thin storyline of “Grease” is fattened in the movie, but the on-again, off-again love affair still lacks the guts it should have. Nevertheless, when Olivia and Travolta make up in the grand finale staged in a carnival setting, all swell breaks loose on the screen for “You’re The One That I Want.”
And when the stars inevitably ride off into eternal bliss, you’ll be hard pressed not to leave the theater humming one of the songs.
There are times when “Grease” seems to mock the old musical (especially when Travolta’s reflection appears in a plastic swimming pool), but even so, it’s still a fun movie.
Summer is off to a fine, fine start.