Daniel T

Let’s start with the positives: - great singing (although not a huge fan of that ugly bit at the end of summer nights) - great production values - a hugely iconic film with very recognisable and unique imagery which speaks highly of the director. Now the negative: - I don’t like to use the phrase “hasn’t aged well” here because the whole film screams misogyny and inappropriate sexual behaviour throughout that I’m sure many people of the time thought it horrendous too - Controversial point here but I find the two leads so bland. Nothing wrong with the acting as such but the film is so long I feel like they had to delete some important characterisation scenes. The first instance is in the diner when Sandy goes to change the song and stands up for her date against Danny. Fabulous. The next second he’s on the running track and trips over and now she’s in his palm laughing at her poor date. It feels like the film got bored of the conflict and said here let’s have 40 minutes of unimportant dancing (bar the last two minutes where Danny betrays Sandy on the dance floor). - Why why why are there songs for unimportant and unfleshed out characters. Again I should state that they all do a serviceable (at least) job but I really couldn’t care less about this woman who wants to go to beauty school who is a friend of the lead and ignored up to that point. - Again I feel this is an unpopular opinion but John Travolta is completely outshined by the other dancers in Grease Lightning. - I have no problem with the verisimilitude of the main relationship because toxic relationships happen all the time but the film celebrates this one. - Danny is a terrible bully at the school and his group of friends pick on this geeky gay kid? Like do you know who the target demographic of musicals are? Gays and women. Your film does such a disservice to both. - the leads are too old for their parts, yes obviously, but the real problem isn’t the likeness it’s the fact that one couldn’t even string together a “boys will be boys” feeble excuse for the creepy behaviour in this film when all the stars look in their late 20s/30s. It’s eurgh. - The script at some points tells us to invest in the sense of “cool”ness exhibited by Danny (even in his softer side) but I’ve never seen anyone look more goofy playing a fairly straight role. Alright that’s enough for now. I don’t like this film but I would recommend it because it’s so provocative and iconic and fun to discuss and debate over.