GREASE QUICK TAKE  Musical: A "cool" 1950's gang leader and a prim and proper schoolgirl have an on again, off again romance during their senior year in high school. PLOT: After meeting and having a brief summer romance in the late 1950's, Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson say good-bye as they must return to their respective hometowns to finish high school. Back at Rydell High, Danny meets the rest of his leather-jacketed "gang," the "T-Birds". Unbeknownst to Danny, Sandy has transferred to Rydell where she meets the "Pink Ladies," the T-Birds' female counterparts who include Rizzo, Frenchy, and several others. When Danny and Sandy finally run into each other they're excited, but Danny -- knowing he has his "cool" image to maintain -- suddenly acts like she's no big thing. Crushed, Sandy rushes off, hangs out with the Pink Ladies, and finally starts seeing Tom, the school jock. Meanwhile Danny and his pals decide to refurbish a car, nicknamed "Greased Lightnin'," and enter it in a competition against Leo, the leader of a rival gang, the Scorpions. Still smitten with Sandy, however, Danny tries various ways to impress her. They eventually get back together and compete at a nationally televised dance-off, although later events separate them once more. As the school year draws to a close, they do what they can to get back together. WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT:  Some sexual innuendo and implied activity, as well as some limited profanity highlight the material with which most parents will probably be concerned. The "s" word and a possible slang term for female genitals are used in a song (and probably not discernable by many viewers) and there are other instances of milder profanity and phrases parents might not want younger kids repeating. Some sexually related comments occur, as does a suggested encounter (and false pregnancy), and we see three guys' bare butts as they "moon" a TV camera. Most of the main characters smoke and make it look cool (but one must remember this was a film made in the 70's about the 50's when smoking was much more the norm). There's also some drinking and bits of behavior that kids may try to imitate, but for most kids a great deal of the material is probably harmless.   ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE  Rizzo and the Pink Ladies drink wine from the bottle and try to get Sandy to drink some. The T-Birds appear to drink beer in one scene.  Rizzo drinks a beer.  A student at the dance-off spikes the punch with liquor, and later he (or someone else) walks by and takes a swig from a bottle.   GUNS/WEAPONS  In the opening cartoon sequence, there is an ever-so-brief image of what appears to be Davy Crockett with a rifle. Switchblade: Shown by Kenickie in one scene.    IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR  Phrases: "Puts out," "Horny," and "Flog your log," (sexual), "Moron," "Chicks" (for women), "Jerks," "Shut up," "Screws up," "Dorks," "Creep," "Nuts" (crazy), "Bite the weenie," "Fruitcake," "Knocked up" (pregnant) and "Putz." Although they're 1950's type gangs, nearly all of the main characters (male and female) belong to them and many smoke. A student pushes another student over a third student crouched behind him. Kenickie puts a small creature into a girl's bag to make her scream when she puts her hand inside it. One of the T-Birds looks up some girls' skirts through the bleachers. Danny does some brief pelvic thrusting while singing a song with the line, "We made out under the dock." It appears that Leo gives the T-Birds "the finger."  Rizzo throws a milkshake in Kenickie's face. A student at the dance-off spikes the punch with liquor. Three of the T-Birds moon the TV camera and we see their bare butts. Students sneak into a drive-in theater by hiding in a car's trunk. Leo and Danny participate in a drag race.    PROFANITY  1 "s" word, 1 possible slang term for female genitals (the "p" word), 2 slang terms for breasts (the "t" word), 4 craps, 1 ass, and 3 uses of "God" as exclamations.   SEX/NUDITY  There's also the material listed under the "Music/Inappropriate" category. Depending on the age of your kids, you might rate the following differently than us (we gave it a mild rating leaning toward a moderate). In the opening animated credits, we briefly see the cartoon bare butts of several guys "mooning" others and a similarly drawn Rizzo in her bra. The T-Birds ask Danny if he "got in her (Sandy's) drawers."  We briefly see Rizzo and some of the other Pink Ladies in their underwear (but nothing else is seen). In an exchange between Rizzo and Kenickie we hear, "What's up?" and then "One guess" (innuendo). Danny then says that she's looking good and she replies, "Eat your heart out." He then says that he's not into "sloppy seconds." When he then walks off she asks him, "Are you going to flog your log?" (masturbate). Catching a ride with Kenickie and then addressing the other T-Birds, Rizzo says, "What do you guys think this is, a gang bang? You wish." We see a passing shot of teens making out in the backs of cars and then stop on Kenickie and Rizzo. They passionately kiss in the backseat and she asks him, "Do you have something?" He then pulls out a condom (calling it his "twenty-five cent insurance policy"), but then comments that it just broke. After a momentary pause, she says "What the hell," they start kissing again and it's implied that they have sex. Later, she mentions that she's missed her period, but then comments that Kenickie isn't necessarily the father. It later turns out that she isn't pregnant. When someone tells Rizzo to "bite the weenie," she says, "With relish." A T-Bird comments that "chicks" are only good for one thing (sex). Another then asks "What are you supposed to do for the other twenty-three hours and forty-five minutes?" Another then says, "Is that all it takes -- fifteen minutes?" Three of the T-Birds moon the TV camera and we see their bare butts. While parked at the drive-in theater, Danny puts his arm around Sandy and tries to put his hand on her breast, and then pulls her down into the seat, but she quickly stops him and leaves.   SMOKING  In the opening animated credits, we briefly see people with pipes or cigars. Kenickie smokes throughout the film, while Danny and Rizzo occasionally smoke and Sandy briefly smokes. Rizzo and her friends try to get Sandy to smoke (peer pressure) and she does, but coughs after one puff. Other minor characters (the T-Birds, etc...) smoke.    VIOLENCE  Leo twice backs his car into Kenickie's car. While trying out for several sports teams, Danny punches one guy in the gut to get a basketball, he hits a wrestler in the chest who's sitting on top of him, and he pulls an umpire's mask out and then lets go, letting it smack the guy in the face. Kenickie and Leo get into a very brief pushing match on the dance floor during a number. A car door accidentally hits Kenickie on the head, knocking him out. Leo has a spinning, drill like device on his car that cuts into Danny's car and shreds its side.   Accepting Others Theme: It's important to be accepting toward others, in spite of any differences. More Than A Movie: Sandy was quite different from Danny, the T-Birds and Pink Ladies. Could the cast of Grease benefited from knowing West Heights UMC Youth? How would the two groups have gotten along? The church needs to adopt an attitude of accepting everyone, no matter how different they might be from the majority. You are encouraged to welcome everyone who comes into your life. If we turn others away because of their behavior, how will they ever get to know Christ? No matter how much people might stick out from the rest of the group, God loves them and they might become your new best friends if given the chance. Discussion Questions:  Have you ever felt as if you stuck out in a group? If so, did the group try to include you anyway? Explain. What hurdles prevent a "different" person from fitting in with the group? What makes it hard for the majority to reach out to the new person? Does accepting people mean you don't have to maintain any standards? Why or why not? How have you accepted someone that you didn't agree with 100%? Lev 19:33-34 "When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. ASK: How can you apply the message in this scripture to new people who come into our church? Do we need to change something about youth ministry so it's place where everyone feels accepted? What needs to change in your character so that you are able to overlook personal differences and welcome all types of people into your life?   Future Theme: We need to plan for our futures in a spirit of humility, acknowledging that God has his own plans for our lives. More Than A Movie: Everyone in this movie is looking to the future. Will the gang stay in touch? What will everyone be doing next year, waitress, beauty school drop-out, etc. For some of you college is only the tip of the "future plans" iceberg, which includes everything from life goals to next-day expectations. What's the proper balance between making "definite" plans and trusting God, moving forward in faith and waiting patiently for God's direction? Discussion Questions: What's your biggest concern about the future, and how much stress does it cause you? What aspects of the situation are outside your control? Within your control? What role does God play in your plans for the future?  Jer 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart ASK: How do you think we can find the right balance between putting our own plans into motion and seeking God's plan for us? Do you think God's plan for us includes every aspect of our lives or just some things? How might your future plans differ from God's plans for you? Do you feel confident that you'll be able to discern God's plan for you as you make choices about your future? Why or why not? If you have uncertainties, how will you move forward in faith? How do you know when you're following God's direction and not your own desires?   Authenticity Theme: Many people find it hard to simply be themselves. More Than A Movie: There were many examples of two faced people in this movie. Danny seemed to be two different people, when he was alone with Sandy he was sweet and kind. When he was with "the guys" he was to "cool" to make her feel like she was important. Some people fake it for so long that they don't know how to be real anymore. Christians, especially, have a knack for putting on facades, donning church faces on Sunday, the clique gear for school, and maybe even something different for home. Tonight, I challenge you to seek out authenticity in your life, let the actual personality that God gave you shine through for all to see. Discussion Questions: Do you know anyone who puts on a front? If so, why do you think they do it? Why don't people like posers? Why do people put on facades even though they realize others don't like phoniness? What impact does a person's authenticity have on your relationship with him or her? Do you feel like you're authentic-that people get the real you? Why or why not? Pro 13:5-7 A righteous man hates falsehood, but a wicked man acts shamefully and disgracefully. Righteousness guards him whose way is upright, but sin overthrows the wicked. One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. ASK: How is it "false" to not be yourself? What pitfalls come from keeping up a facade? Who is someone you know who seems very authentic? What positive qualities come with authenticity? How does authenticity help a Christian represent Christ? How can it build a person's faith? Is there an area of your life where you are being fake? If so, how can you transform it into authenticity?