There are some classic moments, movies, songs, and television shows that just don’t really hold up to modern day standards. Sometimes, that causes controversy (remember all the Baby It’s Cold Outside drama?) and other times we have to just acknowledge that times were different whenever the thing in question was made and move on.
Olivia Newton-John thinks Grease is definitely part of the second category.
I love all kinds of movies, but there really is nothing like watching the classics.
Sure, I’m as excited as everyone else when the latest Marvel film gets released, but there’s no comfort like sitting down and watching one of my favorite old movies and loving it just as much as I did the first time I saw it.
Like Grease !
*Grease* is one of the best movie-musicals of all time.
The acting is great, the songs are great, the plot is fun — MY only problem would be that nobody in that movie really looked like a high school student, but I can put aside my disbelief for an hour of fun every once in a while.
However, lately there’s been criticism that the film as a whole is “sexist,” due to the way Sandy changes herself into the type of person Danny wants at the end of the film.
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Fans have been criticizing this aspect of the film for a while.
There’s nothing wrong with questioning what happens in the movies we love or even pointing out the flaws or just the moments that haven’t aged so well!
Some fans took it a little bit more seriously than that, though.
Fans have been expressing this opinion on social media.
“It still kinda bothers me that at the end of grease, sandy changes because she feels like it’s the way to fit in and be accepted by zuko and his friends,” one fan added .
One of the stars of the film itself apparently saw some of the tweets and decided to speak out!
Sandy herself, Olivia Newton-John, has now responded to the criticism.
“In this particular instance, I think it’s kind of silly because the movie was made in the ’70s about the ’50s,” Olivia said of the criticism in a recent podcast appearance .
“It was a stage play, it’s a musical, it’s fun.”
“It’s a fun movie musical and not [meant] to be taken so seriously,” Olivia went on.
“I think everyone’s taking everything so seriously,” Olivia added. “We need to relax a little bit and just enjoy things for what they are. I didn’t see it like that at all.”
“I think it’s just a fun movie that entertains people. That’s all.”
Obviously, there were a lot of fans of the movie who agreed with Olivia’s assessment, and they also took to social media to share how they felt.
That’s the great thing about Twitter, in my opinion — you can see both sides of any argument!
“People complaining about Grease being a sexist movie need to give it a rest,” one fan tweeted.
“The movie was made over 40 years ago in a different time and climate, about a different time and climate. If that’s the case then most older movies need to be reevaluated. Find a real issue to gripe about,” they added .
Fans also pointed out that Danny changes for Sandy, too.
Danny is definitely a better, kinder, and more cardigan-wearing person by the end of the film, and that’s absolutely Sandy’s influence on him! Sure, it’s not as dramatic a change as Sandy’s, but it’s still there.
Fans were quick to defend a movie they loved.
“If woke warriors think Grease starring Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta is racist and sexist, there is a solution: Don’t watch it,” one fan suggested .
That seems like a pretty good solution to me!
What do you think?
Do you agree with people who think the message of the movie is a little bit dated, or do you think people are taking it all a little bit too seriously? Let us know how you feel in the comments below!
