GREASE ROCKIN' RYDELL EDITION

My new edition of Grease arrived today dressed in a miniature leather jacket. If I were a middle-aged woman I’d be screaming with delight. But I ain’t. Still this this is a pretty good SE even if it does lack a Newton-John, Travolta commentary. One of the most memorable musicals of modern times deserved more than just gimmick packaging. Fans will be happy with the sing-a-long feature and new featurettes, which include looks at Thunder Roadsters and movies that inspired the musical.

But ultimately the most inspiring thing about Grease is the thing that leaves me a little sad. Grease tells the story of a bunch of horny teens who never really find out the truth about sex- that it’s just another part of life that has to balance out against everything else. Oh, wait, there is one teen who figures that out- Rizzo who gets pregnant but hey her and her boyfriend end up getting’ hitched so no problem right? The lyrics alone much less the plot make this an adult experience that often gets foisted off on kids because of it’s catchy song and dance numbers. Well acted, well sung and for this edition dressed in leather- which couldn’t be more appropriate. I’m certainly not saying anyone should throw away fond memories they have of encountering it or staging it for their high school but ultimately- taken at face value- Grease is just another sentimentalized portrait of a troubled period of American history where lust and machismo collide with the unhealthy sort of life most of us wish we could lead.