Is Grease 2 the most controversial pick in our sequels series? Yes. Do we have any qualms about it? Absolutely not. Stephanie Zinone is a feminist icon; no questions will be taken at this time.
Directed by Patricia Birch, who snagged a Tony nod for her choreography on the original Grease stage production, Grease 2 sees more musical, comedic, and romantic hijinks ensue at Rydell High School as Sandy's English cousin, Michael (Maxwell Caulfield), joins the school as a British exchange student. He immediately starts crushing hard on the new leader of the Pink Ladies, Stephanie Zinone (Michelle Pfeiffer, in only her second film role), and, in an attempt to be the cool rider Stephanie desires, Michael dons a black-leather jacket and buys a motorcycle and must also contend with the jealousy of Stephanie's ex, the new leader of the T-Birds (Adrian Zmed). The ensemble cast is rounded out with the incredible likes of Lorna Luft, Tab Hunter, Sid Caesar, Connie Stevens, Eve Arden, Didi Cohn, Pamela Adlon, and Christopher McDonald. [115 min; comedy, musical, romance; English]
"There is a gender-flipped gonzo goofiness to the film that was wildly ahead of its time in ’82 and, sadly, likely remains so today." — Sara Michelle Fetters, MovieFreak.com
"Lightyears ahead of Randal Kleiser's 1978 original, this 1982 sequel employs the Shakespearean marriage plot so beloved of classic musicals, in which two mismatched couples are straightened out and the songs express the moral distinctions of love and sex." — Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
"The things that Grease 2 does that make it special are its staggeringly staged musical numbers (the film was directed by Patricia Birch, who choreographed the original), and Pfeiffer, who combines the best elements of Channing and Newton-John in the original and makes Stephanie a remarkably well-realized lead." — Jason Shawhan, Nashville Scene
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