Grease

Danny (John Travolta): "Bite the weenie, Riz." Rizzo (Stockard Channing): "With relish." Scintillating dialogue, no? Well, no. Watching Randal Kleiser's hit 1976 musical, which is set in the '50s and charts the peer-pressure-flavored rocky romantic relationship between a greaser (Travolta) and a goody-goody Aussie girl (Olivia Newton-John) at Rydell High School, I was again reminded of just how much smarter and funnier was the parody in Mad magazine ("Cease," #205, March, 1979). Still, Grease ain't the word because of its stellar writing or acting (remember the three knuckleheads who follow Travolta around like extras looking for a sitcom, or Didi Conn with her teeth-grating faux Marilyn Monroe voice?), but because of its music and musical numbers, particularly the forever hummable Barry Gibb title track, as well as "Summer Nights," "You're the One That I Want," and the film's centerpiece, the "hand jive" dance competition. Rumor has it that a special edition is due in 2004, but Paramount is nevertheless pushing this one hard. Visually, the image sports some dirt and scratches, but the colors are vibrant and the contrast is sharp (check out Newton-John's black leather slutwear at film's end), and the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is sparkling. Extras are limited to a 17-minute 20th anniversary (1998) retrospective, and an accompanying lyrics booklet. So, should you wait until 2004? Fuggedaboutit. Recommended. (R. Pitman) [DVD Review—Sept. 19, 2006—Paramount, 110 min., PG, $19.99—Making its second appearance on DVD, 1978's Grease (Rockin' Rydell Edition) sports a much improved transfer with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. DVD extras include an audio commentary by director Randal Kleiser and choreographer Patricia Birch, 'The Time, the Place, the Motion: Remembering Grease' retrospective featurette (23 min.), 11 deleted, extended, and alternate scenes with an introduction by Kleiser (10 min.), a "Rydell Sing-Along" feature, a 15-minute featurette from the 25th anniversary DVD launch party, 'The Moves Behind the Music' dance featurette (8 min.), a 'Thunder Roadsters' segment on cars (5 min.), 'Memories' with stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (4 min.), a pair of two-minute 'Grease Day' segments (with Travolta and producer Allan Carr, and with Newton-John and producer Robert Stigwood), photo galleries, and trailers. Bottom line: given the better-looking picture and solid extras, this is the one that we want.] [Blu-ray Review—May 12, 2009—Paramount, 110 min., PG, $29.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1978's Grease (Rockin' Rydell Edition) features a great transfer and a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack. Blu-ray extras are identical to the previous DVD release, including an audio commentary by director Randal Kleiser and choreographer Patricia Birch, 'The Time, the Place, the Motion: Remembering Grease' retrospective featurette (23 min.), 11 deleted-extended-alternate scenes with an introduction by Kleiser (10 min.), a "Rydell Sing-Along" feature, a 15-minute featurette from the 25th anniversary DVD launch party, 'The Moves Behind the Music' dance featurette (8 min.), a 'Thunder Roadsters' segment on cars (5 min.), 'Memories' with stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (4 min.), a pair of two-minute 'Grease Day' segments (with Travolta and producer Allan Carr, and with Newton-John and producer Robert Stigwood), photo galleries, and trailers. Bottom line: a wonderful Blu-ray debut of a contemporary classic musical.] [Blu-ray Review—Apr. 17, 2018—Paramount, 110 min., PG, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $22.98—Making its latest appearance on DVD and Blu-ray, 1978’s Grease features a fine transfer with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras new to this release include 'A Chicago Story' segment with new interviews with writer Jim Jacobs and original cast members from the Chicago show (25 min.), alternate animated main titles (4 min.), and a brief alternate ending. Extras carried over from previous releases include audio commentary by director Randal Kleiser and choreographer Patricia Birch, an intro by Kleiser, a sing-along version of the film, 'The Time, The Place, The Motion: Remembering' retrospective featurette (23 min.), deleted scenes (10 min.), a 2002 DVD launch party (15 min.), production segments on 'The Moves Behind the Music' (8 min.), 'Memories from John and Olivia' with stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (4 min.), and 'Thunder Roadsters' (5 min.), as well as 'Grease Day' segments with Travolta and producer Allan Carr, and with Newton-John and producer Robert Stigwood (4 min.), and photo galleries. Bottom line: a fine edition of this contemporary classic musical.]