Fox, the network presented ‘Grease: Live” a classic that is albeit terribly flawed film starring Oliva Newton-Jon and John Travolta and Stockard Channing to name a few,  yet you can’t  but help sing along to the songs whenever it’s showing on tv. This live adaption was directed by Tommy Kail the director mastermind behind Lin-Manuel Miranda’s stunner Hamilton and what an age it is to be alive in, that age being the increasing number of live adaptions such “Peter Pan” and “The Wiz” being produced.  “Grease: Live” was an amazing production from start to finish. It was a “360 degree event that blended theatricality and filmmaking in ways never seen onscreen before.”  It started with a bang after Danny and Sandy were seen canoodling on a beach with Jesse J putting her spin on “Grease is the Word.” A steadicam operator followed Jesse J as she traversed through the production’s large elaborate sets interacting with the cast and making sure to let the view know what’s about to come is going to be “highly theatrical.”

The cinematography for “Grease: Live” was so impressive and made the entire production feel more like a “move musical than a live stage play.” The numbers with the majority of the whole ensemble such as the dance in the gym for the “Hand Jive” sung by Joe Jonas and DNCE as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers were fantastic.  “The camera fluidly weaved among the cast as they threw themselves (quite literally) into Zach Woodlee’s dazzling choreography.”  Juliane Hough and Aaron Tveit as Sandy and Danny Zuko respectively were shining their brightest when they danced the same could be said for their acting chemistry.  Keke Palmer as Marty slayed that role.  She was particularly brilliant in the transition from her bedroom to her soulful the rendition of “Freddy, My Love” in a fantasy USO dreamgirls concept tour-esque fashion. Palmer’s strong vocals and natural stage presence sold the dreamy concept, creating one of the most memorable sequences of the evening.

While all of the actors, dancers cast in this “Grease: Live” were excellent it was just a few interesting production choices that keep it from being the best it could be.  Sandy was now from Utah and was very shy about being on camera because she lied to her parents about where she was going to school. I thought this choice added no depth to the character.  Hopelessly Devoted which was amazingly sung with such heart and emotion by Juliane Hough was moved to happen after the big dance where Cha-Cha and Danny win the dance contest. We missed it happening earlier so the placement seemed odd and puzzling. Mario Lopez hosted “Grease: Live” like it was an episode of Extra and he also played the National Bandstand host Vince Fontaine way creepier than the original “Grease” did. Although this production was shot in front of a live audience but what could have been something creative and new ended up falling flat.  The live audience barely reacted either they were enjoying themselves or they had deadpanned unenthusiastic faces there was no in-between.  While some lyrics in “Greased Lighting” were changed to take the fem-bashing/ women as sexual objects edge off female dancers were still used as seductive props so those changing of lyrics was basically undid. I think some things were keep in such as Danny Zuko wearing a pink shirt at the dance and their being a race for “pink slips” at thunder road just for the sake of nostalgia and mostly convenience.

Although those are some negatives there were fair amounts of standouts as well, especially Jordan Fisher definitely stealing the show as Doddy with a vocal rendition of “Those Magic Changes.” His pure as silk voice was a perfect accompaniment to Danny Zuko’s transformation into an athlete.  Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo did a spectacular job even though her dad had just died the day before. “The show must go on” and go on she did and spectacularly at that.  Her version of “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” was so raw and wrought with emotion it brought tears to my eyes. Even she wasn’t outside walking the school corridor like Stockard Channing was in the original she still manages to emote so much and pour a lot of heart into the song. The viewer didn’t even miss Rizzo, the character being outside hiding from gossipy girls and Kenickie she gave such a soulful rendition.  Boyz II Men did a wonderful job taking the audience to church as the teen angel in this live adaption revamping “Beauty School Dropout” to be a Motown tune where they added just the perfect amount of flavor and soul to that song. Carly Rae Jepson was stellar as Frenchy, she was perfectly cast this was the role she meant to play. Ana Gasteyer as Principal McGee Haneefah Wood as Blanche were the perfect pair. No matter the how simple the scene was Ana Gasteyer was sharp and witty and Haneefah Wood had sass and dance moves for days. Even though the unnecessary random flying car from the original Grease was nowhere to be found in this amazing live production I kind of missed it over all this production was superb.