Plot
Given the runaway success of Grease, which became the biggest-grossing movie musical of all time, it was all but inevitable that there would be a sequel, and four years later this follow-up brought a new group of kids back to Rydell High. It's 1961, and Stephanie Zinone (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the tough leader of the Pink Ladies, while Michael Carrington (Maxwell Caulfield) is a clean-cut British exchange student. Michael likes Stephanie, but the Pink Ladies' by-laws prevent her from dating guys who aren't members of the T-Birds, their affiliated male gang. However, when a Zorro-like masked avenger on a motorcycle rescues Stephanie from a gang of ill-mannered toughs, she's eager to get to know the hero with the cool wheels. Any guesses as to who he might be? Eve Arden, Sid Caesar, and Dody Goodman return from the first film as members of the Rydell High faculty, while actual '50s teen icons Tab Hunter and Connie Stevens are on board as new members of the staff; Didi Conn as Frenchy is the only one of the students to appear in both movies. Patricia Birch, who served as choreographer on Grease, made her debut as a director on Grease 2; while she's remained active as a choreographer, she hasn't directed again since. ~ Mark Deming, RoviReview
Without John Travolta or Olivia Newton-John, the makers of Grease 2 apparently believed name recognition alone would give them a hit movie. They threw together a handful of songs that had none of the charm of the tunes from the original film, and hired a cast of average performers (with two or three small exceptions) to sing them. The performers are game, but the material is so bad their efforts are thwarted at pretty much every turn. The Fabulous Baker Boys proved that Michelle Pfeiffer could sing and act. She might have been able to display those talents seven years earlier had the makers of Grease 2 come up with material worthy of her. Actors just breaking into the movie business will often appear in films that follow them like punch lines for the rest of their career. Grease 2 is that film for Pfeiffer. Although she would grow into one of the most beautiful and talented actresses of her generation, Pfeiffer will probably never quite live down singing about how she wanted to be with a "Cool Rider". On the plus side, this stands, alongside Bachelor Party as one of the highpoints of Adrian Zmed's film career. ~ Perry Seibert, RoviCast
- Maxwell Caulfield - Michael Carrington
- Michelle Pfeiffer - Stephanie Zimone
- Adrian Zmed - Johnny Nogerilli
- Christopher McDonald - Goose McKenzie
- Peter Frechette - Lou Di Mucci
Credit
Neil Machlis - Associate Producer, Sally Dennison - Casting, Patricia Birch - Choreography, Robert de Mora - Costume Designer, Gary Daigler - First Assistant Director, Patricia Birch - Director, John F. Burnett - Editor, Bill Oakes - Executive Producer, Artie Butler - Composer (Music Score), Louis St. Louis - Composer (Music Score), Del Acevedo - Makeup, Phil Caplan - Camera Operator, Gene Callahan - Production Designer, Frank Stanley - Cinematographer, Allan Carr - Producer, Robert Stigwood - Producer, Lee Poll - Set Designer, Lawrence O. Jost - Sound/Sound Designer, Ken Finkleman - Screenwriter, Michael Dennison - Costumes Supervisor| Grease (1978 Film), Grbavica (2005 Film) | |
| Grease Line Steelhead Flies with Harry Lemire (2010 Film), Grease/Saturday Night Fever Karaoke (2002 Film) |
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