Retro Crush: Grease 2

This can tend to be a controversial topic, but I’ve never once backed away from the fact that I am a huge fan of “Grease 2.”

I saw it in the theater. Twice. I’ve owned the soundtrack on every medium available (LP, cassette, CD). I wore out a couple of VHS tapes – that’s what came before DVDs, kids – after recording it off of HBO, back when they used to air the movie approximately four times a day for a good year or two.

I own the movie on DVD, and I will buy the Blu-Ray if it ever gets produced. I’m not holding my breath on that one, though.

The Movie:

This was the movie that helped launch the career of Michelle Pfeiffer. A year before she really hit it big in “Scarface,” Pfeiffer played Stephanie Zinone, leader of the Pink Ladies. Set in 1961, at the beginning of Camelot and on the verge of the Women’s Lib Movement, Stephanie is dissatisfied in simply being arm dressing for the T-Birds. She’s supposed to be betrothed to Johnny Nogerelli, (Adrian Zmed), but she’s her own woman, you see. She’s got a job, she’s got needs, and she’s not gonna take no crap from nobody.

What G2 did here was to reverse the roles from the original film, putting Stephanie in the role of Danny Zuko.

Enter the film’s Sandy, Michael Carrington (Maxwell Caufield). Cousin to Sandy Olsson, Michael is new to Rydell High, and like his cousin is taken under the wing of Frenchy (Didi Conn, reprising her role and her senior year). Naturally, Michael falls hard for Stephanie and decides he must become the Cool Rider that she so desires.

My dirt bike became my motorcycle after that…*sigh* Seriously. The movie also spawned at least two halloween’s worth of costumes for me.

Through misdirection, comedic hijinx, and a faked death, True Love wins the day. Michael is inducted into the T-Birds, and (assuredly later) into Stephanie.

The Cast:

Many of the original Rydell High staff were back, including Eve Arden, Dody Goodman, and Sid Caesar. Tab Hunter and Connie Stevens – both big stars in the 50’s and 60’s – were brought in as teachers, and even Eddie Deezen was back as Eugene.

Rounding out the T-Birds were Peter Frenchette (Louis), Leif Green (Davey), and Christopher McDonald as Goose McKenzie, in one of his first roles ever. McDonald is still one of the hardest working character actors in the biz, and is best known as Shooter McGavin from “Happy Gilmore.”

The Pink Ladies were Alison Price (Rhonda), Maureen Teefy (Sharon) – who cut her musical teeth a couple of years earlier in the original “Fame,” and Lorna Luft as Paulette Rebchuck. Luft was the “ringer” for the musical, as she is the daughter of Judy Garland and half-sister to Liza (with a Z) Minelli.

Finally, who couldn’t love Pamela Adlon (nee Segall) as Paulette’s little sister, Dolores?

The Songs:

The tunes are the best part of the movie. Listen to “Reproduction,” “Back To School Again,” or “Who’s That Guy?” and just try – TRY – to get them out of your head. Songwriter Louis St. Louis wrote many of the songs for both “Grease” movies, and while the songs in G2 may not have been the Top-10 hits that “Summer Nights” and “Hopelessly Devoted to You” were, they are still awesome and fun to sing along with.

The Bottom Line:

This is not haute couture. It flopped at the box office – it had the bad fortune to be released a week before “Annie” and was lost in the shuffle of the Summer of 1982’s other blockbusters (among them “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “Tron,” “E.T.,” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” It was panned by critics as well.

Endless airings on HBO gained G2 a cult following, though. You can still catch showings of the film on Bravo, TBS, and even HBO still now and then. I will watch it every time.

My Name is Elwood, and I’m a Grease 2 Fan. Let’s Bowl.

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