Grease: Did Anyone Think High-Schoolers Looked Like That ?
Grease! The title encompasses the 50s vibe from greasy spoon restaurants, to hair products, to hot rods. Throw in tight fitting clothes, catchy tunes and hip gyrations and we have a favorite movie classic .
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Let’s start with the *opening cartoon credits*, which look like they were drawn by a caffeinated toddler . Then suddenly, we’re on a beach where Sandy and Danny are making goo-goo eyes like two people who just got our of a years worth of solitary confinement. Sandy’s in a full-length skirt and sweater, let you know that she still thinks she’s wintering in Australia, even though the beach is clearly a hot July in the USA.
The Physics of Grease
Rydell High operates under its own laws of physics. Not only are all the teenagers, much older, but an entire school year flashes by in the blink of an eye. The boys are a tough gang known as The T-Birds’ whose favorite past-time is racing for pink slips (car ownership). But these Greasers are also known for their gravity defying hair. Danny’s pompadour is so impressive, if turned upside down, he could be used as a mop.
The Pink Ladies: Are the de-facto female counterparts to the T-Birds. Membership seems to come from having a T-bird put his arm around you. They aren’t really a gang, more like a cheering squad, and their greatest cheers are for each other. Supporting Frenchie’s failed attempts at beauty school, and Sandy’s failed attempts at being accepted as one of the gang.
The Music: A Series of Red Flags Set to Melody
– Summer Nights: A he said/she said where both are lying. Danny claims they “got friendly,” which in ‘50s slang means “We slow-danced and then I named a star after her.” Sandy says they “held hands,” which in ‘50s slang means “We slow-danced and carved our initials in a tree.”
– Greased Lightnin’: A song about a car that’s 90% innuendo, 10% actual vehicle. Kenickie’s so turned on by his own jalopy, he might as well marry the carburetor.
– Beauty School Dropout: A public shaming set to music. The Teen Angel (Frankie Avalon) descends from heaven like a glittery HR rep to tell Frenchie she’s failed at life. Maybe or perhaps Frenchie only wants to be a stay-at-home mom.
– The One that I Want – This shared declaration of love is a gyrating masterpiece. After both Sandy and Danny had tried to adapt to their “opposite” love interest. But the relationship is dead when one is a goody-two shoes, so let the Sandy gets “Bad”. And Danny throws off his stuffy letter sweater.
The Ending: When the Movie Fully Gives Up on Reality
After two hours of “Will they/won’t they?”, Sandy completely reinvents herself as a leather-lunged vixen to win back Danny. And everyone is happy. But a celebratory dance at the end of the school year is not the finale. No, they go to drive off into the sunset like a “just married” couple and their car flies away. Not metaphorically. Literally…What? I guess it’s a just a reminder that the American Dream of the 50s is…only a dream.
