History YMMV / Grease

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Danny's gang that often acts as jerks or bullies, especially to Eugene. Normally, in a classic scholastic teen movie, they would be the antagonists. This is averted in the TV special, [[spoiler:where they are much kinder to the point where they welcome Eugene in their group after he helped them win the race.]] While Kenickie earns some points for caring about Rizzo, Danny's relationship with Sandy makes him come across as worse than them all (although, see a couple of sentences below). Not only does he emotionally manipulate Sandy, but he gets too hot and heavy with her too quickly at one point, which almost verges on date rape. Although, in the film, from "Sandy" onwards, and again, the TV Special tried to alter their relationship a bit to avert this. (Both Danny and Sandy make some effort to meet each other halfway, and he does seem genuinely penitent during "Sandy".
** Marty. Sorry, we're meant to sympathise with a girl who has [[spoiler: just swore she won't tell anyone her best friend is pregnant, and, within seconds, blabs]]?! As if!

** About Rizzo's PregnancyScare: is it really just a false alarm, as she says, or does she secretly get an abortion?

** Sandy gets one herself in the TV version, when she stands up to Patty to defend Rizzo when the latter is having a pregnancy scare. She wins by getting a good DeadpanSnarker moment that verbally burns Patty. This exchange between Rizzo and Sandy follows:

* AccidentalAesop: Many people interpret Danny and Sandy's wardrobe changes at the end of the movie in a negative light, seeing it as each "giving up" part of themselves to be what they believe the other wants instead. The implied meaning in reality is actually more about compromise - that is, they are both willingly receptive to crossing over into the other's lifestyle if it means they can be together, and he can mature without abandoning his friends while she can loosen up without abandoning her morals.

* DesignatedHero: Danny, our male lead who we are suppose to consider as a great guy, is not really all that great. Attempted date-rape aside, his overall attitude towards Sandy qualifies as emotional abuse. This does get amended in future adaptations and revivals, where he likes Sandy but doesn't want to seem uncool to his friends, then feels genuine remorse for brushing her off. However, many would say while this is a step in the right direction, he still comes across as abusive.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Danny's gang that often acts as jerks or bullies, especially to Eugene. Normally, in a classic scholastic teen movie, they would be the antagonists. This is averted in the TV special, [[spoiler:where they are much kinder to the point where they welcome Eugene in their group after he helped them win the race.]] While Kenickie earns some points for caring about Rizzo, Danny's relationship with Sandy makes him come across as worse than them all (although, see a couple of sentences below). Not only does he emotionally manipulate her of Sandy, but he tries to date rape her at one point. Although, in the film, from "Sandy" onwards, and again, the TV Special tried to alter their relationship a bit to avert this. (Both Danny and Sandy make some effort to meet each other halfway, and he does seem genuinely penitent during "Sandy".

* AccidentalAesop: Many people interpret Danny and Sandy's wardrobe changes at the end of the movie in a negative light, seeing it as each "giving up" part of themselves to be what they believe the other wants instead. The implied meaning in reality is actually more about compromise - that is, they are both willingly receptive to crossing over into the other's lifestyle if it means they can be together.

* DesignatedHero: Danny, our male lead who we are suppose to consider as a great guy, is not really all that great. Attempted date-rape aside, his overall attitude towards Sandy qualifies as emotional abuse. It's as if ''Film/{{Chinatown}}'' was written from Noah Cross' perspective towards the end. This does get amended in future adaptations and revivals, where he likes Sandy but doesn't want to seem uncool to his friends, then feels genuine remorse for brushing her off. However, many would say while this is a step in the right direction, he still comes across as abusive.

** Was Cha-Cha in the movie just an [[AlphaBitch evil scheming bitch]] when she literally snatched Danny away from Sandy during the dance ''or'' did she just want an opportunity to show off her (admittedly impressive) dance moves? Notice how she doesn’t really pay any attention to Danny until he and Sandy draw a crowd. Given that we don’t know what her background let alone her education looks like, it’s possible that she might have thought she’d never get another chance to dance in front of a crowd. Then again it has been outright stated that in this continuity that she and Danny did have a thing in the past. If it’s the latter then is her HateSink treatment entirely fair or does it paint her as something of an AttentionWhore?

** Was Cha-Cha DiGregorio in the movie just an [[AlphaBitch evil scheming bitch]] when she literally snatched Danny away from Sandy during the dance ''or'' did she just want an opportunity to show off her (admittedly impressive) dance moves? Notice how she doesn’t really pay any attention to Danny until he and Sandy draw a crowd. Given that we don’t know what her background let alone her education looks like, it’s possible that she might have thought she’d never get another chance to dance in front of a crowd. Then again it has been outright stated that in this continuity that she and Danny did have a thing in the past. If it’s the latter then is her HateSink treatment entirely fair or does it paint her as something of an AttentionWhore?

** Marty. Sorry, we're meant to sympathise with a girl who has [[spoiler: just swore she won't tell anyone her best friend is pregnant, and within seconds, blabs?!]]. As if!

* WhatTheHellCastingAgency: All the actors [[DawsonCasting playing teenagers]] wouldn't even pass for college students, especially Creator/StockardChanning (who was in high school in ''actual'' 1959).

* AudienceColoringAdaptation: Following Music/OliviaNewtonJohn's casting in the film, many productions have followed suit and made Sandy Australian.
* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Almost all the songs, especially "Greased Lightnin'," "Summer Nights," and "You're The One That I Want." Quite a few people prefer the songs over the actual movie. Also, "Hopelessly Devoted to You"—despite being the AwardBaitSong—stands out significantly too.

** Although the T-Birds (bar Kenickie and Danny) were this trope in other adaptations, they seem to have had an extra dose of it in this adaptation. They're a lot goofier and wisecracking, which makes their "tough guy" look much more of a façade. Doody in particular had his adorkable factor turned up ever since he's started to play guitar. It's enough to make the girls around the school (and the girls of the studio audience) swoon.

* AcceptableTargets: Nerds and cheerleaders, apparently. These are downplayed, but not entirely eliminated, in the 2016 live TV version.

* HypeBacklash:
** Paramount waited five years after first entering the DVD market to release ''Grease'' in that format. They also apparently spent a lot on advertising, including staging a cast reunion. Unfortunately, fans hoping Paramount put as much effort into restoring the movie and producing bonus features found nothing but an anamorphic upscale of the 1998 restoration, the original trailer, and a handful of interviews dragged over from the 20th Anniversary Laserdisc/VHS. They had to wait for four ''more'' years for a DVD with better picture and more extras.
** ''Grease'' as a whole, as one of the most famous and successful musicals of all time, has attracted criticism from many for its thin plot and characters who have been criticized as both underwritten and unlikable. This is a bit downplayed though, as few are willing to praise the show as some kind of high artistic achievement despite its popularity.

** Doody. Whether he is awkwardly attempting to ask Frenchy out in the play or the only T-Bird in the movie who hesitates at the thought of racing at Thunder Road, he still manages to have a fun presence nevertheless. Justified in that he is the youngest of the Greasers, although this detail is [[AllThereInTheManual made explicit only in his script bio]].

* UnnecessaryMakeover: Sandy was perfectly fine as a wholesome, sweet cheerleader, but Danny and his friends truly accept her only once she starts dressing like one of them. Although Danny WAS willing to change halfway for her too, and most people think that her new fad wouldn't last long, and he'd be fine with that.

** Doody. Whether he is awkwardly attempting to ask Frenchy out in the play or the only T-Bird in the movie who hesitates at the thought of racing at Thunder Road, he still manages to have a fun presence nevertheless. Justified in that he is the youngest of the Greasers, although this detail is [[AllThereInTheManual only made explicit in his script bio]].

* JustHereForGodzilla: Most people care more about the songs than they do the story, the characters and by extension, the message. In fact, several people ''only'' care about the songs. They're so catchy and upbeat, that it shouldn't be a surprise that they've stayed this popular for so long. Many of them are played free of context so often that younger generations don't even know about the musical they came from.

* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: Danny is hated by some for his crappy treatment of Sandy, and the T-Birds have also attached similar ire for being being bullied to poor Eugene. Later versions have tried to make them more sympathetic, particularly the TV Special where Danny is markedly better to Sandy while the group treat Eugene like a friend.

* UnnecessaryMakeover: Sandy was perfectly fine as a wholesome, sweet cheerleader, but Danny and his friends only truly accept her once she starts dressing like one of them. Although Danny WAS willing to change halfway for her too, and most people think that her new fad wouldn't last long, and he'd be fine with that.

** Grease as a whole has experienced this. Being one of the most famous and successful musicals of all time, it has attracted criticism from many for it's thin plot and characters who have been criticized as both underwritten and unlikable. This is a bit downplayed though, as few are willing to praise the show as some kind of high artistic achievement despite it's popularity.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Almost all the songs, especially "Greased Lightnin'," "Summer Nights," & "You're The One That I Want." Quite a few people prefer the songs over the actual movie. Also, "Hopelessly Devoted to You"—despite being the AwardBaitSong—stands out significantly too.

* ToughActToFollow: In spite of its huge popularity, ''Grease'' in its movie form, according to the book ''501 Must-See Movies'' "did virtually nothing for the careers of everyone involved."
* UnnecessaryMakeover: Sandy was perfectly fine as a wholesome, sweet cheerleader, but Danny and his friends only truly accept her once she starts dressing like one of them. Although, actually, Danny WAS willing to change halfway for her too, and most people think that her new fad probably wouldn't last long, and he'd be fine with that.
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: It's possibly the most '70s version of the '50s ever made. [[Theatre/{{Grease}} The original play]] is much more period-appropriate, and [[BeamMeUpScotty lacks many of the scenes people remember from the film adaptation]].

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Danny's gang that often acts as jerk or bullies, especially to Eugene. Normally, in a classic scholastic teen movie, they would be the antagonists. This is averted in the TV special, [[spoiler:where they are much kinder to the point where they welcome Eugene in their group after he helped them win the race.]] While Kenickie earns some points for actually caring about Rizzo, Danny's relationship with Sandy actually makes him come across as worse than them all (although, see a couple of sentences below). Not only does he emotionally manipulate her of Sandy, but he essentially tries to date rape her at one point. Although, in the film, from "Sandy" onwards, and again, the TV Special tried to alter their relationship a bit to avert this. (Both Danny and Sandy make some effort to meet each other halfway, and he does seem genuinely penitent during "Sandy".

** Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey apparently intended for Sandy's change to be seen as her becoming more free and sexually liberated, shedding the '50s "good girl" stereotype, as well as a reversal of the "bad boy becomes good" plot they'd seen in films of that era. The problem is that the rigid and repressing sexual mores that Sandy would be seen as adhering to in the beginning are no longer present in current media and haven't been for a long time; so what should have looked like her liberating herself from society's outdated expectations appeared instead to be her simply conforming to a different societal construct, one now seen as self-destructive, to appeal to her ex-boyfriend who's not obviously that nice to begin with. Even within the film itself, Sandy is never ''shown'' to feel pressured by her parents or society to act like an innocent "good girl," but she ''is'' shown to be heavily prude-shamed by the entire cast all film, so it comes off less like her embracing her true self and more like (as stated above) giving into new social mores thrust upon her.

** The dance contest's rule #1 "All couples must be boy-girl." On the other hand, it ''[[DeliberateValuesDissonance is]]'' TheFifties... (and the fact that the school even feels the need to make that a rule [[AlternateShowInterpretation offers some interesting subtext]]). However, those who still take ball-room dance class know this rule all too well.
* WhatTheHellCastingAgency: All of the actors [[DawsonCasting playing teenagers]] wouldn't even pass for college students, especially Creator/StockardChanning (who was in high school in ''actual'' 1959).

** Some fans just can't hide how much they enjoy the chemistry between two of the actors from the 2016 special: Elle [=McLemore=] (Patty), and Creator/NoahRobbins (Eugene). [[https://twitter.com/P0pul4r/status/705818905017585664 Just look at this example]].[[note]]Which Elle "Liked," but, then again, Elle likes a lot of tweets.[[/note]] This was taken UpToEleven during Fox's Easter Sunday 2016 rebroadcast of the special when the two [[https://storify.com/MHackneyTN/onlyfortvtropes occasionally flirted with each other over Twitter]]. Unfortunately for the shippers, Elle got engaged to someone who wasn't Noah Robbins[[note]]in this case, tennis instructor Josh Levinson[[/note]] just before Christmas 2016.

* DesignatedHero: Danny, our male lead who we are suppose to consider as a great guy, is not really all that great. Attempted date-rape aside, his overall attitude towards Sandy qualifies as emotional abuse. It's as if ''Film/{{Chinatown}}'' was written from Noah Cross' perspective towards the end. This does get amended in future adaptations and revivals, where he likes Sandy but doesn't want to seem uncool to his friends, then feels genuine remorse for brushing her off. However, many would say while this is a step in the right direction, he still comes across as a BastardBoyfriend.

** This theory comes across as ''extremely'' HarsherInHindsight following the 2022 death of Olivia.

** Some fans just can't hide how much they enjoy the chemistry between two of the actors from the 2016 special: Elle [=McLemore=] (Patty), and Creator/NoahRobbins (Eugene). [[https://twitter.com/P0pul4r/status/705818905017585664 Just look at this example]].[[note]]Which Elle "Liked," but, then again, Elle likes a lot of tweets.[[/note]] This was taken UpToEleven during Fox's Easter Sunday 2016 rebroadcast of the special, when the two [[https://storify.com/MHackneyTN/onlyfortvtropes occasionally flirted with each other over Twitter]]. Unfortunately for the shippers, Elle got engaged to someone who wasn't Noah Robbins[[note]]in this case, tennis instructor Josh Levinson[[/note]] just before Christmas 2016.
* AdaptationDisplacement: You'll usually see the film more remembered than the Broadway musical, especially with most tropes on this article applying to the movie script. How many people even remember that Danny was originally played on Broadway by Creator/BarryBostwick and that Rizzo was Creator/AdrienneBarbeau? The 1971 Kingston Mines ''Grease'' (pre-Broadway) itself was displaced by both the Broadway version and the film, except for when it got a brief 40th anniversary revival. The 2016 live show even incorporated several elements invented for the film, most notably the car race (which would of course be pretty hard to portray on stage) and the songs that were written for the screen.

** Frenchy gets one in the TV version during Doody's song "Those Magic Changes". When he leaves after serenading her, you can see her geeking out in background.
** Although the T-Birds (bar Kenickie and Danny) were this trope in other adaptations, they seem to have had an extra dose of it in this adaptation. They're a lot more goofy and wisecracking, which makes their "tough guy" look much more of a façade. Doody in particular had his adorkable factor turned up ever since he's started to play guitar. It's enough to make the girls around the school (and the girls of the studio audience) swoon.
** Tom Chisum is seen stacking his and Sandy's lunchtrays, the table condiments, and his burger and fries into a tower after Sandy leaves the table in the fast food joint. Also, his awkward first words with Sandy were borderline cute.

** Patty Simcox is portrayed as obnoxious and a loser, but aside from apparently gossiping about Rizzo's possible pregnancy (and Rizzo already being rude to nearly every character she interacts with in the film, though she does make some amends), what does she do that makes her so bad? She's a little too perky, but not really deserving of getting kicked off a bench, made fun of, have her dress lifted up in front of the whole dance, and in the stage musical get punched by post-makeover Sandy.
*** She did slutshame Rizzo to the group she was showing around just before "There Are Worse Things I Could Do". Although you could argue that was more TheDogBitesBack, especially since Rizzo seems to bully her for being a"goody-goody."

** Paramount waited five years after first entering the DVD market to release ''Grease'' in that format. They also apparently spent a lot on advertising, including staging a cast reunion. Unfortunately, fans hoping Paramount put as much effort into restoring the movie and producing bonus features found nothing but an anamorphic upscale of the 1998 restoration, the original trailer, and a handful of interviews dragged over from the 20th Anniversary Laserdisc/VHS. They had to wait four ''more'' years for a DVD with better picture and more extras.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Danny's gang that often acts as jerk or bullies, epecially to Eugene. Normally, in a classic scholastic teen movie, they would be the antagonists. This is averted in the TV special, [[spoiler:where they are much kinder to the point where they welcome Eugene in their group after he helped them win the race.]] While Kenickie earns some points for actually caring about Rizzo, Danny's relationship with Sandy actually makes him come across as worse than them all (although, see a couple of sentences below). Not only does he emotionally manipulate her of Sandy, but he essentially tries to date rape her at one point. Although, in the film, from "Sandy" onwards, and again, the TV Special tried to alter their relationship a bit to avert this. (Both Danny and Sandy make some effort to meet each other halfway, and he does seem genuinely penitent during "Sandy".

* WhatTheHellCastingAgency: All of the actors [[DawsonCasting playing teenagers]], ESPECIALLY Creator/StockardChanning (who was in high school in ''actual'' 1959).