zkonedog
Since these musical TV productions started to gather steam a couple of years ago, I have watched three of them: "Sound of Music", "Peter Pan", and this one, "Grease Live". While not nearly as dreadful as "Pan", "Grease" doesn't live up to the "Sound of Music" template, either. Unfortunately, it makes some strange decisions (flying in the face of some pretty good casting) and focuses on some add areas that lead mostly to distraction and disappointment.For a basic plot summary, this is basically the same "Grease" story you've seen on film or in the theater. Danny Zuko (Aaron Tveidt) and Sandy (Julianne Hough) have a summer fling, then find out they are now going to the same high school, a place populated by the stereotypical high school "greasers" and the cliquish "Pink Ladies", led by Rizzo (Vanessa Hudgens) and Frenchy (Carly Rae Jepsen).To start things off with a compliment, the best thing that this production has going for it is that they perfectly case Hough and Hudgens in their respective roles. Hudgens (a theater/musical vet) is nearly as good as Stockard Channing in the film version, while Hough has the dance moves and voice to back up her sweet demeanor. Jepsen is fun to watch as Frenchy, too.Also, for the first half hour or so of watching this, I was honestly intrigued and excited about what would come next. Unfortunately, it slowly started to fall apart the longer I watched.Aside from those two great casting choices and an interesting introduction, there were just too many problems for this production to ever really rope me in (like, say, the movie can):-Tveidt is not a great Zuko. He's not outright terrible, but he can't bring any of the comedic timing that Travolta could to the role, and doesn't add in anything of his own to fill that void. For a character that is such a large part of the production, this is obviously going to be a problem. -Too many extemporaneous characters that draw the focus away from Rizzo, Sandy, & Frenchy (the real talents of the show). I don't seem to remember there being so many different side-plots in other Grease adaptations I've seen. Hough's Sandy is almost criminally underutilized (again, considering how much more screen time a clearly inferior Zuko gets). -Only the "Summer Lovin'" and maybe Rizzo's solo ever got me excited and invested. Again, for a musical this isn't a good thing.So, while I really had been excited about this event for quite some time, I came away mostly disappointed. Like I said, it wasn't the utter train wreck that "Pan" turned out to be, but it also only mildly held my interest. Mainly, I felt that the real talents of the production were marginalized to suit a storyline that seemed to meander amongst characters that weren't all that interesting. That, and of course the weakness of a mediocre (at best) Zuko performance, just couldn't get me excited for much longer after the initial "bloom was off the rose" 30 or so minutes in.
ambaughman
Once you get passed the technical difficulties the vocals were horrible, Vanessa Hudgens' version of Rizzo left something to be desired and Carlos Pena Vega not only got lost dancing during Grease Lightening but let it show all over his face. Fell way below my expectations and had no business being aired and everyone needed to be fired. Boyz II Men weren't bad but weren't great, although they had the right idea handing them microphones you could actually hear them over the booming music. Now the only saving grace was Didi Conn and attempts at comedy by Ana Gasteyer (giving her credit with what she had to work with). They are the only reason this got one star. Oh before I forget julienne hough needs to go back to dwts and stay there she can't act to save her life nor does she have the vocal range to be sandy (sour note during hopelessly devoted to you and inability to hit higher notes, girl is alto in a role calling for a soprano).
ddevlin-49166
Grease: Live is very good. The soundtrack was pretty good and of course, it wasn't as good as the original but still great. They added a new song though, which Frenchy (Carly Rae Jepson) sang well but was just so out of context, it made no sense. It was like it went into the wrong movie. Also, for us while watching live on television, it glitched out a ton during "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and kept going back and forth from a commercial, "Greased Lightening," and the dance scene. Overall pretty good though. If you enjoyed the original Grease, you should definitely try this version. I also love how Pink sang "Grease is the Word" in this one! The beginning was my favorite part of it.
jlloyd-chadwick
This is the fist time I have watched this since seeing the original one with Travolta many (too many) years ago.I thought it was very well choreographed and was in keeping with the original in many ways.It is something that no matter how young or old you are you will always find yourself tapping along with the songs and even singing them if you know them.A must watch for anyone, especially the "younger" generations as this shows just how good movies used to be before all the newer CGI inputs.Thanks you to all those that made this version possible JL
