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Rizzo is the most interesting character in Grease

73 replies

Arbesque · 21/08/2022 11:36

I was just rewatching this last night. Sandy and Danny are both quite bland characters, he a bit dim but nice and trying too hard to be cool, she a pleasant clean living blonde cheerleader.
But Rizzo is more complex, putting on a hard front but really insecure and vulnerable behind it. It would have been interesting to see a spin-off exploring her story.

OP posts:
Nw22 · 21/08/2022 12:27

I have always loved rizzo. by far the most interesting character.

chouxpetitfilous · 21/08/2022 12:31

Zilla1 · 21/08/2022 12:21

Not a patch on the machine shop woman teacher who keeps a bunch of sexist 1050s teenaged boys in check, helps them build a hot rod and goes along to the hot rod race at the risk of her job (or have Imagined all that?). Best ignore the lyrics to greased lightning though.

Yes! A great character.

MrsTimRiggins · 21/08/2022 12:34

Zilla1 · 21/08/2022 12:21

Not a patch on the machine shop woman teacher who keeps a bunch of sexist 1050s teenaged boys in check, helps them build a hot rod and goes along to the hot rod race at the risk of her job (or have Imagined all that?). Best ignore the lyrics to greased lightning though.

Bloody love her 😂

but yea I do think Rizzo was easily one of the most interesting characters, Danny and Sandy are boring and annoying for the vast majority of the time.

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MarthaMayWhovier · 21/08/2022 12:37

Clawdy · 21/08/2022 12:07

She was a bit mean to Sandy with the Sandra Dee song though! 😁

I always thought it was worse Frenchie joined in on the song. She was supposed to be nice and Sandy's friend.

Wisterical · 21/08/2022 12:43

Always loved Rizzo - and she grew up to be a doctor and First Lady!

ferneytorro · 21/08/2022 12:44

I always assumed this was a given!

Rosewaterblossom · 21/08/2022 12:48

It's funny isn't it because we are supposed to grow up and be like sandy not rizzo. We condition kids in schools to be "good" like sandy and not "bad" like rizzo. But you're right in saying rizzo is definitely the most interesting character!

MinglingFlamingo · 21/08/2022 13:36

Zilla1 · 21/08/2022 12:21

Not a patch on the machine shop woman teacher who keeps a bunch of sexist 1050s teenaged boys in check, helps them build a hot rod and goes along to the hot rod race at the risk of her job (or have Imagined all that?). Best ignore the lyrics to greased lightning though.

Oh god I love her!

Actually I would watch a movie about the Rydell High Staff. Her, the head mistress, the secretary and the pe teacher

Staff room gossip about this dance which is happening and who is with who and passing about the students

ShadowPuppets · 21/08/2022 13:44

Needmorelego · 21/08/2022 11:49

She did alright...grew up and married the president 🤣

As a massive West Wing fan I like to imagine that Grease and TWW are set in the same universe 😁would make some of her interactions with Amy Gardner re women’s rights particularly interesting in the context of abortion etc!

LittleBearPad · 21/08/2022 13:53

Rizzo is excellent.

I also like Frenchie.

The rest meh!

And my 10 year old (and forty-something self) still has massive issues with the ending - particularly taking up smoking to get a boy!

the80sweregreat · 21/08/2022 14:32

I liked Frankie
I'm glad she didn't drop out of school in the end
The film has a pretty bad message though : become a sex symbol to keep your man. (Something that went over my head aged 12 when it first came out at the cinema)
Rizzo would have ended up a single parent if she hadn't found out she wasn't pregnant after all.

Beezknees · 21/08/2022 14:34

YANBU. She was always true to herself, she didn't change herself for a man like Sandy did despite being slut shamed and gossiped about. She was kind of mean to Sandy initially but it was out of jealousy and insecurity which I think she recognised by the end of the film.

the80sweregreat · 21/08/2022 14:38

The Sandra Dee song was horrible
In fact , the whole film is really.
I loved the sound track though , owned it on cassette.

SleepingAgent · 21/08/2022 14:39

Antarcticant · 21/08/2022 11:39

I think she's the only interesting character!

Agreed. She was the only reason to watch it.

Dislike the whole "change yourself for a man" message but it was of it's time I guess.

Kezzie200 · 21/08/2022 14:39

Rizzo definitely the most interesting. Agree with best song choice too.

But I think the whole film creates great discussion on how far we have come. And that's only progress since the 1960s and era when we had already made a lot of progress. The debate can continue on how we can continue to make progress from here.

Bladed · 21/08/2022 17:29

I would agree with you if it weren’t for the fact she bore an uncanny resemblance to my not-so dm, and I could never get past that!

MrsTimRiggins · 25/08/2022 10:02

Sandra Dee was supposed to be mean, it was teenagers being arseholes… like the majority of the film (Danny, I’m looking at you and Cha Cha DiGregorio!!)
I always thought Kenickie was lovely. Wanted to be cool and be seen as cool but a sweetheart really. He had no worries about being there for rizzo (as far as I remember!) until she went and told him it was someone else’s baby 😂

the80sweregreat · 25/08/2022 10:10

Rizzo sung the song ' there are worst things I could do ' , so why should I change ?
Yet Sandy was quick to put on sexier clothes and have her hair curled in order to entice her man ! The whole premise of Grease as a story is pretty odd.
I would hope that Rizzo learnt her lesson that having unprotected sex could have had very big consequences too.

Clawdy · 25/08/2022 12:46

I guess to be fair, Danny is trying to change for Sandy too, turning up in the last scene, looking uncomfortable in a geeky cardigan! Although he does rip it off rather quickly.......😁

Loopyloooooo · 25/08/2022 12:57

Am I the only person who read the title and thought you were talking about Rizzo the rat from the Muppets? 🤣🤣

Loopyloooooo · 25/08/2022 12:58

...never mind just seen the "grease" in the title. Clearly I need my glasses on and more caffeine lol.

the80sweregreat · 25/08/2022 13:01

He does rip off that geeky cardigan rather quickly at the end
That whole last scene on the fair ground ride is very sleazy. It isn't a wholesome film at all! ( especially at the drive in too when she rejects his advances there as well)

HappyMackerel · 25/08/2022 13:03

Yes. Lover her.

Zilla1 · 25/08/2022 13:04

again, Mrs Murdock...

Horological · 25/08/2022 13:13

@theskyispurple what’s the connection between Rizzo and ADHD?