Grease 2
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 Grease isn't the word in this sequel.
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Grease 2 is a 1982 American musical romantic comedy film and the sequel to the 1978 film Grease, which is based upon the 1971 musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Originally titled More Grease, the film was produced by Allan Carr and Robert Stigwood, and directed and choreographed by Patricia Birch, who also choreographed the first film and the Broadway musical. It takes place two years after the original film at Rydell High School, set in the 1961–1962 school year, with an almost entirely new cast, led by actors Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfeiffer in her first starring role.
Plot
It is 1961, two years after the events of the original Grease, and the first day of school has arrived ("Alma Mater" from the original musical) as Principal McGee and her secretary Blanche react in horror as the students, among them the new T-Birds and Pink Ladies, arrive at high school ("Back to School Again"). The Pink Ladies are now led by Stephanie Zinone, who feels she has "outgrown" her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Johnny Nogerelli, the arrogant and rather immature new leader of the T-Birds. A new arrival comes in the form of clean-cut English student Michael Carrington (a cousin of Sandy Olsson from the previous film). He is welcomed and introduced to the school atmosphere by Frenchy, who was asked by Sandy to help show Michael around. Frenchy reveals she has returned to Rydell to obtain her high school diploma so she can start her own cosmetics company. Michael eventually meets Stephanie and quickly becomes smitten with her. At the local bowling alley, a game ("Score Tonight") turns sour due to the animosity between Johnny and Stephanie. Stephanie retaliates by kissing the next man who walks in the door, who happens to be Michael. Bemused by this unexpected kiss, Michael falls in love with Stephanie and asks her out, but he learns that she has a very specific vision of her ideal man ("Cool Rider"). After realizing that he will only win her affection if he turns himself into a cool rider, Michael accepts payments from the T-Birds to write term papers for them; he uses the cash to buy a motorcycle. Following an unusual biology lesson ("Reproduction") given by Mr. Stuart, a substitute teacher, a gang of rival motorcyclists called the Cycle Lords (most of whom are members of the defunct Scorpions) led by Leo Balmudo, surprise the T-Birds at the bowling alley. Before the fight starts, a lone mysterious biker appears (who is Michael in disguise), defeats the enemy gang, and disappears into the night ("Who's That Guy?"). Stephanie is fascinated with the stranger. Meanwhile, Louis, one of the T-Birds, attempts to trick his sweetheart, Sharon, one of the Pink Ladies and Stephanie's friends, into losing her virginity to him by taking her to a fallout shelter and faking a nuclear attack ("Let's Do It for Our Country"). The next evening while working at a gas station/garage, Stephanie is surprised again by the Cool Rider, and they enjoy a romantic twilight motorcycle ride, which includes a kiss. Just as Michael is about to reveal his identity, they are interrupted by the arrival of the T-Birds and Pink Ladies. Before Michael leaves, he tells Stephanie that he will see her at the school talent show, in which the Pink Ladies and T-Birds are performing. Johnny, enraged by Stephanie's new romance, threatens to fight the Cool Rider if he sees him with her again. The Pink Ladies walk away haughtily, but this has little effect on the T-Birds' self-confidence ("Prowlin'"). At school, Stephanie's poor grades in English led her to accept Michael's offer of help. Johnny, upon seeing them together in a discussion, demands that Stephanie quit the Pink Ladies to preserve his honor. Although still enchanted by the mysterious Cool Rider, interactions with Michael reveal that she has become romantically interested in him as well. Michael ponders over the continuing charade he puts on for Stephanie ("Charades"). At the talent show, Stephanie and the Cool Rider meet up but are abruptly ambushed by the T-Birds who pursue Michael on their respective motorcycles, with Stephanie, Sharon, Paulette, and Rhonda following in a car. They chase him to a construction site which conceals a deadly drop, and the biker's absence suggests that he has perished below, leaving Stephanie heartbroken and inconsolable. Johnny and his T-Birds remove the competing Preptones – preppie boys – by tying them to a shower pole in the boys' locker room and drenching them. During the Pink Ladies' performance in the talent show ("Girl for All Seasons"), Stephanie enters a dreamlike fantasy world where she is reunited with her mystery biker ("(Love Will) Turn Back the Hands of Time"). She is named winner of the contest and crowned the queen of the upcoming graduation luau, with Johnny hailed as king for his performance of "Prowlin'" with his fellow T-Birds. The school year ends with the luau ("Rock-a-Hula Luau (Summer Is Coming)"), during which the Cycle Lords appear and begin to destroy the celebration. However, the Cool Rider reappears. After he defeats the Cycle Lords again, he reveals himself to be Michael. Initially shocked, Johnny gives him a T-Birds jacket, officially welcoming him into the gang, and Stephanie is delighted that she can now be with him. Michael and Stephanie share a very passionate kiss and he whispers that he loves her. All the couples pair off happily at the seniors' graduation as the graduating class sings ("We'll Be Together"). The credits start rolling in yearbook-style, as in the original film ("Back to School Again").
Why Stephanie and Michael Won't Be Together
- The film is a rehash of the original film, except for minor changes, more specifically having all original characters replaced by new characters.
- Abysmal soundtrack that is completely and utterly inferior to the original film's in every way. The songs themselves are unoriginal and poorly-written and the lyrics often come off as laughable. For example, the ending song, We'll Be Together, is an obvious rip-off of the previous film's final musical number, We Go Together (and while most of the songs are wannabes of the ones from the original movie, this one is the most blatant due to the title itself being taken from the song). Not to mention how it completely lacks any of the original beat, energy, or catchiness of We Go Together that made it one of the original movie's best songs, as well as a perfect send-off to the film. And the opening number, Back To School Again, tries too hard to be the next Grease Is The Word. This isn't helped by the fact that this movie's opening in and of itself is completely inferior to that of the original film. It's shockingly boring, with it only consisting of the characters dancing and singing about how happy they are to be back in school. Seriously! Compare this to the animated opening of the original Grease! Sure it can come off as kinda cheesy to some people, but it was original, and it went down as a classic due to that and how memorable it was. This, on the other hand, is so forgettable that it might just come off as filler. And given how it's the movie's opening, yeah.
- While the acting is decent, some of the talents can come off as wasted.
- Unnecessary Removal and Replacements of the Characters: Similar to how sequels like Happily N'Ever After 2: Snow White—Another Bite @ the Apple, Jingle All the Way 2, Mean Girls 2, Spirit Untamed, Son of the Mask, Surf's Up 2: WaveMania, Home Alone 3 and The Holiday Heist removed their protagonists in favor for new ones, the two main characters Danny and Sandy are removed without any explanation and nowhere to be seen in the sequel because they are replaced by two new main characters, Michael and Stephanie, which they are rehashes of Danny and Sandy.
- Michael and Stephanie are bland protagonists in this film and feel like cheap and inferior knock-offs of Sandy and Danny from the previous films. But with none of the latter two's charm, personality, or chemistry.
- False Advertising: This movie is said to be a sequel to the first movie when in reality, it's more of its separate movie or a pilot episode for a TV show rather than an actual movie sequel.
- This so-called "sequel" doesn't have the same charm as the original film. Because every aspect that made the original film so special and memorable is completely and utterly tarnished here. The characters are carbon cut-outs of the original ones, the soundtrack is a complete and utter joke, and the entire plot tries so hard to be the original film's that all it does is make the audience wish that they were watching the original film instead.
- The film ignores the events of the original film. As previously stated (in WINTW# 6), it feels more like its own separate film rather than a sequel to the original movie.
- The ending makes no sense and is tiresome to sit through.
- Misleading Title: This film looks more like a spin-off/reboot than a sequel whose story and characters were changed at the last minute; in fact, it shouldn't have been titled Grease 2 in the first place!
- Because of the changes made in this film, it doesn't even feel like Grease. Instead, it feels like another generic musical comedy movie.
- A lot of characters from the original film weren't even seen or mentioned, particularly Danny, Sandy, Rizzo, Kenickie, Vi, Vince Fontaine, Mrs. Murdock, Tom Chisum, Sonny, Jan, Marty, Doody, Putzie, Patty And Cha Cha.
- The film even had the gall to include Tom Willett (Featureman) of all people, which aged poorly because of the controversy that came to light in early 2023.
- The film overall killed the Grease franchise, as this film was planned to be the Kickstarter of an entire franchise consisting of 4 movies and a television series. But due to Grease 2's poor reception, both the sequels and series were canceled. That being said, Grease later returned as Grease: Live! in 2016, so at least the franchise didn't stay dead because of this film forever.
Redeeming Qualities
- While it's mainly unfaithful to its predecessor, it still takes place at the same school as the first film. So at least the setting is faithful to that of the original film.
- The acting is still decent thanks to seven of the actors' the late Dick Patterson, Didi Conn, the late Sid Caesar, Eddie Deezen, the late Dennis C.Stewart, the late Eve Arden, and the late Dody Goodman for reprising their roles as Frenchy, Leo Balmudo (the original villain from the first movie), Mr Spears (Mr Rudie From Grease) Eugene Felsnick, Principal McGee, Coach Calhoun, and Blanche Hodel, who they all seven appeared in the first movie.
- It does make some sense for John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John to not Star in this sequel as Danny and Sandy because they both were in college when the movie was released.
Videos
Reception
Grease 2 was panned by critics and audiences alike and holds a 37% critic approval score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Trivia
- This movie was in development for four years.
