Grease 2 (1982)

Director: Unknown
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Maxwell House, Adrian Zod, Sid Caeser, Eve Ardon

Quite simply the greatest sequel ever made, Grease 2 picks up exactly where Grease 1 left off (albeit three years later). Everything is EXACTLY the same at Rydell High School apart from all of the students and most of the teachers. The songs are also different, and the violence has been toned down a little.

The Pink Ladies are still there too. This time lead by Michelle Pfeiffer as Stephanie. This was Michelle's first film and she is terrific. Although not as desirable as Olivia Newton-John, she is still very good. I also love her hair. She went on to star in Scarf Ace and Labyrinth.

The T-Birds are also back, although this time they are obsessed by motorbikes instead of cars. They are a fearsome bunch of scoundrels who favour swift brutality. Their leader is Zod.

The plot involves an English exchange student called Michael (Maxwell Coal Field). Everyone thinks he is a giant square and nowhere near popular enough to hang around with the ultra-trendy T-Birds. He is also forbidden from dating a Pink Lady due to an ancient code that I didn't really understand.. Personally I thought his blazers, light grey slacks and penchant for tweed to be the epitome of style, but what do I know! LOLZ! Maxwell is very good as Michael, perhaps too good. After Grease 2 he was abducted by the anonimity mothership and disappeared from our screens altogether. He recently appeared in Casualty on BBC1 playing the same character.

Moving on, if you thought the plot to Grease 1 was complex, wait till you hear this; Michael buys a motorbike and disguises himself behind a helmet and goggles. He calls himself the 'Cool Rider' and delights Stephanie by careering wrecklessly around a large car park. Naturally they begin seeing each other but he remains mysterious due to his insistance upon wearing the helmet at every opportunity. This creates a Clark Kent/Superman type scenario whereby Stephanie just cannot tell the difference between these two guys who are really the same guy! It is a superb plot device that keeps the proceedings totally unpredictible. It also explains why I always confuse this film with Superman.

Of course, the T-Birds do not like Stephanie seeing the Cool Rider because it breaks the afforementioned code (which I still fail to grasp). She sees him anyway, creating a dramatic tension that is almost impossible to bear. Meanwhile, the square and anonymous Michael does everybodies homework because he is English and genetically more intelligent than any of the Americans. He also refuses to kneel before Zod.

I won't reveal the ending, but Michael removes his helmet and goggles at a huge Hawaiian-themed party and Stephanie embraces him and accepts him for who he is. Everyone sings a happy song about mutual respect and they all graduate from high school. Roll credits.

The songs are sensational. The opening song Back To School is a rip-snorter which focuses on the kids all returning to school after the summer. There is a song set in bomb-shelter (though thankfully without the nuclear menace that one would associate with such an environment) and another song set in a bowling alley(though thankfully without the nuclear menace that one would associate with such an environment).

The best song is a ballard called Charades. As sung by Michael, I imagine it really sums up the frustration of leading a double life. He wants Stephanie to accept him for who is, not a mindless stuntman who cavorts around on a stinking, noisy motorbike (like most, if not all motorbike owners)

The motorbike scenes are breathtaking though. The best bit is when Michael shows up at the bowling alley as 'Cool Rider' for the first time. He wows the assembled masses with a totally stunning selection of wheelies and modest jumps before roaring off into the night. Moments later he returns and everyone sings a song called 'Who's That Guy', which features my favourite lyric of the film:-

Cast: 'Who's that guy, on that motorcycle?'
Michael: (thinking, but singing) 'What would they say if they knew it was Michael!'

The scene culminates with a jaw-dropping jump over a police car, which ironically would have put Michael in Casualty had he fallen off in mid-air. Or indeed if he had ploughed directly into the side of the police car. Or skidded underneath and been impaled on the chassis and exhaust.

Anyway, time to finish. Hopefully this review has convinced you to seek out this classic film. If Grease 2 were a bird it would be a golden eagle soaring at a slightly lower altitude to Grease 1, because Grease 1 is still best. Just!

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Warm regards, Skip