Opening number great. Introduing characters great. Think it was fine to have a cool girl and goody two shoes guy. That combination is fine. 'Cool Rider' fine. Pretending to be a cool rider a little unrealistic, but sure, fine.
Main issues:
- Michael is too separate. While Sandy is part of the girls (and thus the world) straight away Michael isn't. They should have bought Michael into the T-birds orbit early. He should be in the bowling number. He could've arrived at the bowling arcade in time to join in, or been friends with the nerds. 'Reproduction' should have been Michael's song. Tab Hunter great but Michael should have taught the class.
- They emasculate the T Birds. Danny and Knickie were genuinely tough. When Balmudo turns up the T birds here are all clearly scared, made into a joke - wearing jackets over gym gear. When he appears at the bowling they run away. If they're no threat why would Michael want to join the T Birds? Why would the Pink Ladies back them? Why would Michael fear them? They destroyed character for a gag. Bad mistake. Johnny and Goose/Louis should've been genuinely tough.
- They bring Johnny and Paulette together too soon. Johnny should be more into Stephanie and so is more of a threat to Michael. As it is he hooks up with Paulette straight away but still moons over Stephanie which is like real life but unsatisfactory drama. Still have Paulette and johnny get together but hold it off.
- Too many songs have nothing to do with story. 'Let's Do It for Our Country' is fun but there's no story point. Ditto 'Prowlin' and 'Reproduction'. Compare Grease, songs went to story ('Beauty School Drop Out', 'Grease Lightning') or at least emotion ('Worse Things I can Do', 'Sandy', 'Hopelessly Devoted').
So. How to fix.
- Put Michael with some nerds. This gets him in bowling number and 'Reproduction'. These can be songs in the Michael-Stephanie arc.
- Make Johnny tougher. And another T bird - Louis.
- Pull back on Johnny-Paulette, don't put them together yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment