GREASE vs GREASE 2: A Critical Analysis and Review

Introduction 

When Grease came out in 1978, the Randal Kleiser-directed film was such a hit that the studio planned to make three sequels. However, the first sequel, Grease 2 (1982), was a bomb. As a result, future plans for the franchise quickly evaporated. Still, in recent years, Grease 2 has enjoyed a resurgence and become somewhat of a cult hit. But how does the infamous sequel genuinely stack up against the timeless original?

The Cast – Grease

Much of the cast from each Grease film is a household name now. Yet, at the time, they were just upcoming hopefuls looking for that Hollywood big break. While Grease made stars of John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, their acting careers would taper away throughout the 1980s. Pulp Fiction (1994) would rejuvenate Travolta’s career and propel him back into A-list status.

Stockard Channing, who played Betty Rizzo in Grease, never enjoyed the glittery marquee success of her co-stars. However, the Tony and Emmy-award-winning actress has always been a powerful presence on both stage and screen. The likes of Jeff Conaway, Michael Tucci, and Didi Conn all worked steadily on television. The original film also boasts a who’s who of Old Hollywood players, including Sid Caesar, Eve Arden, and Joan Blondell.

With regards, to Grease, there is also another star that needs to be mentioned. That’s the electric chemistry between Travolta and Newton-John. The two sparkle whenever they appear together, and you root for them throughout the story. Their genuine affection for each other is what drives the film forward.

The Cast – Grease 2

Michelle Pfeiffer basically got her start in acting starring in Grease 2. While this wasn’t her first film credited film role, her portrayal of Stephanie Zinone would be the stepping stone that she needed in order to elevate herself to A-List status. She would remain there for decades. Pfeiffer is a brilliant Oscar-nominated actress who commands the screen in every role she appears in. Grease 2 is no exception.

Maxwell Caufield is a solid actor who would later blame Grease 2 for tarnishing his career. Still, you have to question whether he had the cinematic oomph to contend with the slew of action heroes who’d ultimately dominate the 1980s. Caufield is a stage and screen veteran who has worked steadily for over 40 years. He even can be seen in the Hulu series Pam & Tommy (2022) portraying Penthouse magazine founder, Bob Guccione.

Christopher McDonald is an excellent character actor, although his portrayal of Goose McKenzie seems to channel Lenny from Laverne & Shirley. Adrian Zmed’s first credited screen role was starring as Johnny Nogerelli in Grease 2, and he’s been acting steadily ever since, most notably as the Disco King host of Dance Fever throughout the 80s, as well as William Shatner’s partner in T.J. Hooker. 

It’s impossible to predict how actors will engage with their audiences, as well as how their marquee will grow. However, Hollywood is filled with stories of actors that everybody expects to be big stars, only to see them fizzle out. In retrospect of this, the original Grease clearly has the better cast. It should be noted that part of this has to do with the characters themselves.

Characters – Grease

Grease strongly identifies all of its supporting characters. Rizzo is the leader of The Pink Ladies. Marty is flirty. Jan is quirky, and Frenchie is a loyal friend. They’re all strongly defined through their dialogue and their actions. Kenickie is the leader of the T-Birds, and Sonny is the try-hard. Doody is the goofy one and Putzie is the naïve one.

While Doody and Putzie are somewhat similar in their characteristics, they are both given a handful of distinguishing moments that makes them each unique. Putzie talking about how long sex takes is an example. Also, the two characters are visual opposites as one is a blond, the other a brunette.

In Grease, Principal McGee accosts Sonny, one of the T-Birds to give him a dressing-down. It works so well because it comes immediately after Sonny talks about how he’s going to rebel against McGee’s authority. However, given the chance, Sonny is instead bumbling and apologetic. Danny and the other T-Birds then mock him. The well-edited scene really gives you a sense of the dynamics that are at play. 

Characters – Grease 2

In Grease 2, as far as The Pink Ladies go, Pamela Segall stands out most as Dolores. This is not just because of the clear age differential from the other characters, but because she has also an interesting and satisfying character arc. Maureen, Lorna, and Alison are almost interchangeable. While they’re given the occasional idiosyncratic flourishes, they’re not fully realized characters.

In Grease 2, the T-Birds fare worse than in the original film. In this incarnation, Johnny, Goose, Louis, and Davey all play one-dimensional goofballs. They’re basically consigned to comic relief that never really works. Even when they’re given the chance to shine, the moments are poorly written and fall flat.

Again, in Grease 2, Principal McGee gets the chance to accost one of the T-Birds. This time it’s Johnny, who can’t even respond because he’s taken his lit cigarette into his mouth. He cowers before McGee. It’s a scene that seems to exist for the sake of something happening and mirroring the original. That it’s the T-Bird leader is a weird double-down. You couldn’t imagine Kenickie behaving this way.

The Story – Grease 2

The screenplay for Grease 2 sets up a fairly poorly written love triangle in that Stephanie and Johnny are exes, while Michael loves Stephanie. As a result of this, one would think that Johnny should be established as a much greater threat, both physically and romantically. Wouldn’t it make sense that he might take issue with Michael, and would actually make an effort to win Stephanie back?

This would immediately make his character more compelling, as well as give his overall arc more weight. It also would make his gesture at the end of the film (presenting Michael with a T-Birds jacket) more meaningful. Yet, even Johnny and Stephanie’s former relationship is never that deeply explored. Compare it to The Karate Kid (1984), where you get a sense of the couple Johnny and Ali were. In Grease 2, these details are just asides thrown out there for the sake of creating a love triangle.

Interestingly, when the reviews for Grease 2 started to come out, the film was accused of being somewhat derivative. This criticism is unfair as it’s playing to a genre that requires certain staples. That it’s accused of being derivative is akin to condemning a rom-com for having a romance in it. Grease 2, incredibly, actually has a much stronger storyline than one might actually think.

The Story – Grease

In Grease, the hard work has been done before the story begins. When the film opens, Danny and Sandy are already together. The problem is she’s moving back to Australia. Now, does that become a hurdle? No. Her parents change their minds, and she stays. Then Rizzo arranges for her to bump into Danny. He treats her appallingly. Danny then has to win her back by taking up a sport to impress her.

This plot setup in Grease soon leads to a collection of short comic scenes where Danny comically fails at various sports. However, his efforts do eventually win Sandy back. The problem with this formula is that romcoms are generally about keeping the couple apart. Once they get together, it’s usually the fairy tale ending of the movie.

Grease throws obstacles in Danny and Sandy’s path as Danny continues to treat Sandy poorly. He meets her at the pep rally and mocks her. At the diner, he tries to hide they’re together, even though no one seems to care. At the school dance, he allows himself to be separated from Sandy and continues dancing with Cha-Cha. Why would Sandy forgive him for humiliating her in front of the school, and on national television?

Inexplicably, we then see Danny and Sandy at the drive-in. He gives her his ring and is bemused that she’s overwhelmed by the gesture. He then tries to force himself on her. The only redeeming thing Danny does is show up at the end in a letterman jacket. This demonstrates he’s willing to change for her. Yet, she shows up and has changed for him, rendering the gesture meaningless.

Further Analysis

Grease 2 sets up the story in a much more traditional fashion than its predecessor. Stephanie has a jealous ex (Johnny) and believes she wants a certain type of guy. Michael is smitten with her but he’s a nobody and she’s a Pink Lady. He writes homework papers for money, and saves up to buy a bike so he can become who she wants – the “Cool Rider” she sings about.

Stephanie soon becomes enraptured with the mysterious helmeted motorcycle rider. As part of the film’s plot device, Stephanie never actually realizes that the cool rider is Michael. This is because when Michael’s on his two-wheeler, he always remains covered up, anonymous, and a complete enigma.

There’s a short great scene in Grease 2 where Michael and Stephanie are talking in a restaurant. He’s going to tutor her and she’s impressed that he’s intelligent. He’s embarrassed. They connect. She sees something in Michael. The scene is well written and the pair have real chemistry. 

Further, when Stephanie hooks up with Michael as the cool rider, they also have this deeper connection as a base because of this scene. It’s a really cool storyline that they should’ve focused on more. This is because Maxwell Caufield and Michelle Pfeiffer are able to play off one another. It’s engaging and elevates the material out of the dregs.

The Antagonists

Both movies use Dennis Stewart as the antagonist “Leo.” Although in Grease 2, he’s identified by his surname “Balmudo.” In Grease, Leo is the leader of the Scorpions. In Grease 2, Leo and most of the Scorpions have been recycled as the biker gang the Cycle Lords. Both gangs exist to give the T-Birds an enemy and create a rivalry that can underpin the story with an arc that involves all the characters.

In Grease, Leo and Kenickie have several altercations. Also, it’s important to note that Kenickie never backs down from Leo. When Leo takes Rizzo to the dance, Kenickie counters by taking Cha-Cha. The two almost get involved in a fight and the story ends with a drag race that Danny wins. Leo is defeated.

Throughout Grease 2, Johnny and the rest of the T-Birds repeatedly cower before Leo and the Cycle Lords. Given the T-Birds are meant to be cool and dangerous, it’s not a great look. It also does nothing to build their stature. The film ends with Leo and the Cycle Lords crashing the luau, before Michael, as the Cool Rider, heads off Leo. Leo rides into the pool and that’s it. That’s the end of his involvement in the story.

On the other hand, in Grease, there’s an actual logic that is close to the antagonism. Danny beats Leo in the climactic drag race. This is a suitable and rewarding finish to the rivalry that has been building. Falling into a pool doesn’t constitute the end of a rivalry. If anything, you’d imagine that Leo should emerge even angrier than before.

The Music

Grease has one iconic hit after another in it. This is because the film is based on the 1971 iconic award-winning musical, written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Additionally, the film version of “Hopelessly Devoted to You” was nominated for an Academy Award in 1979, losing to “Last Dance” from Thank God It’s Friday (1978). The original musical also won multiple Drama Desk awards.

Grease 2 essentially has two good songs: “Cool Rider” and “We’ll Be Together.” Neither has become as iconic as any of the timeless Grease songs, such as “Summer Lovin,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “You’re the One That I Want.” Even the lesser well-received songs such as “Beauty School Dropout” are catchy. The important thing about the music in Grease is that every song in some way advances the story.

Through the songs in Grease, we either learn more about the characters or are told how they’re feeling. For example, Stockard Channing fought to keep “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” in the finished film because it showed another side to Rizzo. Without that song, she is just the bully. But when Rizzo belts this out, we learn that deep down she’s insecure and vulnerable.

With regards to Grease, all the songs mentioned above, tell us about Danny and Sandy’s relationship in some way. However, only “Cool Rider” and “We’ll Be Together” offer storytelling of any sort in Grease 2. The rest of the songs are just commentary on whatever’s happening at the time. The songs “Back to School Again,” “Score Tonight” and “Reproduction” have no deeper meaning past their titles.

Commentary

Grease has only two songs that serve as a commentary. “Greased Lightnin’” was such a good song that John Travolta stole it away from Jeff Conaway, who was actually meant to sing it. The song’s narrative centers around the car they’re going to rebuild for the drag race. “Beauty School Dropout,” also offers up commentary on Frenchie’s indecision about what she should do with her life. Both of these songs play into the narrative, rather than being some aside that has no further bearing on the story or the characters.

Something else to consider is the way the songs are integrated. In Grease, they’re introduced and conclude organically. Even with big fancy dance numbers, the transitions are seamless. However, in Grease 2, the segues are awkward, and at times they don’t seem to know how to end them and resume the action.

Probably the funniest of these examples is the song “Cool Rider.” Stephanie belts it out as Michael watches in awe. Stephanie dances out of the school and Michael keeps watching. Extras stand around, providing background scenery. It’s a weird juxtaposition and it doesn’t end. Stephanie bounces around the corner of the school and out of sight as the song fades away. 

Conclusion

Grease started as a 1971 musical, so it existed in an earlier form. It was workshopped and improved on as it evolved and transformed from the stage to the screen. The story and concept may be minimal. However, the cast, the characters, and the songs have immortalized Grease as a timeless classic.

The big problem with Grease 2 is that they decided to copy the formula, but didn’t seem to understand how or why the original worked so well. Pink Ladies? Check. T-Birds? Check. Songs? Check. Yet, not a lot of thought was put into how and why each component functioned in the overall structure of the sequel. The supporting characters are given pointless busy work that only distracts from the main theme.

While it may be true that Sonny, Doody, and Putzie aren’t really given anything overly meaningful to do in Grease. Yet, their characters never occupy any screen time that could be better used elsewhere. They never detract from the overall narrative that’s holding the entire story together.

It’s little surprise that in Grease 2 when Stephanie and Michael interact (the one genuinely interesting aspect of the story – that the film suddenly develops an identity and finds its own voice. If more was done with them and the music surrounding their relationship, it could’ve made Grease 2 just as good as the original.

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