‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ Review: Paramount + Prequel Disappoints as Musical But Scores Celebration of Teen Friendship – Hollywood Reporter

For nearly half a century, the argument raged as to whether anointed Ending entirely in girls’ changes-to-please the boy, or secretly feminist because of the vivid female character and rejection of puritanical sexual behavior. If you reign + ‘s’ Anointed: Arise from the rose of the Ladies has to face, there will be no discussion about the proper progressive states. The prequel aims to tackle the epidemic of sexism and racism head on in its 1950s setting, while also, of course, delivering infectious melodies, a lovable character and a sweet teen romance.

Some of that series succeeds. As a social-justice proposition; Rise Orff Ladies in an unjust place; as a musician, he forgets in pieces. But as a story about the joys of friendship and first love, Love is almost enough to make up for its shortcomings in other areas.

Four years before the original proceedings anointed, Rise Orff Ladies It’s the origin story for the cool-girl that gives the show its title. His de facto leader is Jane (Marisa Davila), who begins the 1954-55 school year as a good-looking girl in the form of Sandy — although we first see her moaning at the hands of boyfriend Buddy’s star quarterback (Jason Schmidt), in a pointed contrast. to Sandy’s caste sighing over a guy who “got a girlfriend holding my hand.”

But when a vicious rumor destroys her reputation, Jane finds herself exiled to the fringes of Rydell’s society, where she encounters a new collection of misfits: Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells), a romantic brain who’s been called a school prostitute; Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso), a puckish tomboy who wants to join the Birds; and Nancy (Tricia Fukuhara), a quirky fashionista fed up with her classmates’ dating obsessions.

With their help, Jane mounts a campaign for the presidential class against the incumbent Buddy – which quickly snowballs into a larger force among the popular, preppy Socs he represents, and a larger coalition of grays, nerds, drama dorks and other outsiders. JOHN

The premise is broadly appealing, at least if you’re a fan of upbeat musicals about the intermingling of high school parties and the resulting breakdown of adolescent hierarchies — to Hairspray, High school musicians, happy and indeed original anointed. and Rise Orff Ladies“Parental affection shines through bright and clear in the awards show, which features extravagant classic numbers like “Greased Lightning” and “Good School Dropout,” as well as brief appearances from smaller versions of one or two family members. anointed characters

Alas, in the morning the wheels begin to sing and dance in front. Rise Orff Ladies does a few stand-out numbers — including the moms’ fairy tale dance, twisting to domestic instruments at the beginning of episode two, and a tender love song by two queer characters against an Old Hollywood explanation in episode five.

But a large part of the songs leave no impression, despite the immense enthusiasm and inexplicable professionalism of the show. The musical numbers are starting to feel more like filler to sit through than to warm up the weekend. Which, since there are at least three in every five critical episodes (ten-part season), one hour might feel too hairy.

The series also fumbles its handling of politics. His brand of female power is simplistic, but mostly enjoyable, with storylines and numbers that highlight the hypocrisy of villains and double-edged swords. But he is far more willing to deal with his own kind.

The first two narratives; Rise Orff Ladies seems to be done in a colorblind version of 1950s America. Until the third episode, which the series recognized, it is no different with the introduction of Hazel (Shanel Bailey). Transferring from a predominantly Black community, the first noted that perhaps some students might not he sees her the idea of ​​having a school dance in a social club that just started to let the Italians join five years ago. Meanwhile, few white brands take their undisputed biases seriously in any way. The heart of the show may be in the right place, but its timidity is as silly as it is silly at best and at worst.

Still, Rise Orff Ladies the occasion arises where it is most effective, and despite its faults I found myself most pleased with the third or fourth issue. The series shares an irreverent sense of humor with its predecessor, hilariously everything from mid-century cooking (“It looks like a cake, but its flesh,” the party teased, after sampling what’s called a ribbon of bread) to Romeo and Juliet (“A raucous moral tale of two horndog teenagers whose punishment is death,” drew the ambitious drama teacher.

With the resident comic relief characters, Fukuhara embraces Nancy’s mortified decorum, while Notartomaso demonstrates a crisp timing with a train of zingers — many of them directed at the beleaguered assistant principal (Jackie Hoffman).

In a larger way, the good times are based on genuine warmth and compassion for young characters. Olivia, Nancy, Cynthia and Jana can feel the stereotypes he has laid down, but Rise Orff Ladies each one is encouraged to be more than one—for the jester will show Cynthia’s vulnerable side as an inoculating thespian; In fact, Jane decided to move the greaser Richie (Johnathan Nieves); Pariah Olivia pricked to reveal her inner brand.

What began as a contest between relatives of strangers, whose only commonality is their foreign state, is bound together in a network of true friendship, over idle chatter and elaborate plots of revenge.

“Who said the boy had the king’s coat?” Cynthia sings near the end of the premiere. By the end of the second episode, the question turned into a revelation as the ladies of the Roses strolled through the halls of Rydell in the extremes. There is no singing or dancing in time, no grand speeches are made about social evils or the subversive power of Rydell, which is just as well. Existence The show is doing what it does best: celebrating the power and joy that comes with being in a really good group of friends.