I should probably caption this ‘Unpopular Opinions.’
SO, don’t get me wrong. I always loved Grease, I watched it as a kid, I danced around to ‘You’re the one that I want’in my living room and I was even a Pink Lady in my school production. I wasn’t just a fan of it, I was a big advocate.
I realised the other day it has been years since I’ve watched this classic, so I hopped on Netflix and gave it a re-watch. And the thing I realised? Grease is the worst. I don’t know how it managed to pull the wool over our eyes for so long, but Grease is pretty much one of the worst examples to young women in any film ever. In fact, in general it’s kind of problematic.
Of course, you’ve got to try and see it as a product of it’s time, and all that, so you have to cut it some slack. But honestly, some of these things got me thinking; is this actually how things worked back in the 60’s? And if they were, isn’t this more than a sappy teen romance, isn’t this actually a lesson in everything we should not be doing?
1. Sandy thinks Danny giving her his ring is a sign of respect
This whole Drive-through scene is confusing to be honest, and I was willing to let it slide because of how old-time and dreamy the idea of a drive-in movie date is. But honestly, Sandy is (rightly) annoyed at Danny for ditching her at the school dance, but then (after elbowing her in the boob whilst trying to get it off with grease from his hair) Danny asks her to wear his ring, and hey presto! She is t h r i l l e d.
I was shaking my head at the screen. Sandy clearly was not well versed in the art of holding a grudge. Stand your ground girl. But no, a crappy ring and she’s fawny eyed again, saying how this proves that her boyfriend respects her. I’m guessing in the modern day, in terms of love languages, Sandy would be one for gifts, or a girl who wants her boyfriend to buy her a Gucci bag.
2. Five seconds after this happening, Danny tries to get off with Sandy, proving he is actually not respectful.
Shocker. Seriously, who okayed this part. I know Danny’s meant to be your typical guy from the wrong end of the tracks, but the way he acts doesn’t exactly fit in with 2019’s knowledge of consent. He gives her his ring, then tries to cop-a-feel, and then get’s annoyed when she stops him saying he thought she liked him. And he does something pretty similar on the beach at the very opening credits. Like I said, I don’t want to be one of these millennial snowflakes who can’t understand that this film was made 50 years ago. But are we saying 50 years ago this is how boys acted? Because maybe I don’t want the drive-in movie date so bad after all.
3. Rizzo is actually a great character
So, probably like a lot of people, I wasn’t Rizzo’s biggest fan when I watched the movie as a kid. She’s painted as the girl out to sabotage Sandy and make her life harder, so you don’t exactly root for her. What I realised watching it back, Rizzo is actually probably the best character in the whole movie. She is a strong female who knows what she wants and doesn’t take any shit from anyone, and if that’s not a good role model to women then what is? Only re-watching ‘There are worst things I could do,’ did I realise her character actually demonstrates to the audience the sexist and hypocritical attitude towards young women and how you can’t be a Sandy or a Rizzo, without being judged for your choices. In a movie like Grease, there really is no win situation for women.
4. The ending.
The ENDING. That’s all I really need to say. Back when I was a kid, riding off in a car that flies with my boyfriend seemed like the best thing in the world (Side note- I’ve graduated from high school and funnily enough it didn’t go quite like that). But anyway, now that I’ve had time to reflect, I’ve realised Grease has pretty much the worst message for young girls, all disguised in a good tune.
Sandy literally sings a song saying she needs to become something new, and tells Frenchie, that she isn’t happy, but thinks she knows how to be. Cue her donning the full t-birds number complete with a perm and cigarette. To anyone thinking changing your hair or starting up smoking to fit in better or win over the boy you like is a good idea- put the red lipstick down, and back away slowly.
It isn’t.
I know there’s the whole argument that this ending is good because it shows how two people fall in love and change together, and Danny wears a letterman jacket and goes to track once because he is oh so in love with Sandy, but one look at her at the end of the movie and it’s goodbye sports and hello leather jacket again. She’s the one who ends up changing, not him. And I understand all the comments about female empowerment and her taking control of her sexuality and that’s great, but why does taking control of her sexuality have to mean changing her appearance in a way she showed absolutely no interest in doing until she realised it would help her relationship? Why shouldn’t she be able to own it with her fringe and long skirts? And that brings me onto the final point…
5. Sandy and Danny are not a good match
I know you might call me cynical because this is a high school romance and it’s sweet and adorable and not meant to last, but let’s just be honest.. Sandy and Danny are a terrible match for each other. No wonder there’s such a bad stereotype of girl’s going off the rails and falling for the wrong guys –– they probably grew up watching this movie. Watching it back, there’s not really one point in the film where they actually seem like a good couple, and the most fun they seem to be having is that two minutes they dance together. The whole movie is about the chase, and whilst that’s all good, I reckon Danny’s the kind of guy who might get pretty bored after that.
So that might have spoilt the fantasy a little but let’s just be real, Grease is a great movie and you can totally appreciate it for what it is and the killer soundtrack. I’ll definitely watch it about a hundred more times, despite everything I’ve said.
But in reality, Sandy and Danny would have flown off in that car, ran out of gas, and called it quits two months later.