The Cinefilles get schooled!

It's that time of the year, kiddies. Time to hide your flip-flops and whip out your colour-coated folders. Time to trade your sunnies for school board spectacles. Time to drop the Popsicles and invest in ball-point pens. Time to go back to school - again!

But never fear summer lovers - the Cinefilles are here and ready to help you soothe your book-bag blues! In place of our columns this week we'll be giving you a peek at our favourite school-themed flicks. We'll cover the classics. We'll introduce to the unknowns. And we'll even bring out some brilliantly bad apples. All in an effort to help you get past the first week of class.

First up, we've got a tribute to the Terribly Awesome! side of post-secondary education. Come back after the lunch bell for the ultimate camp-us tour!

Terribly Awesome!: Grease 2

Just another Manic Monday? Wish it was Sunday? Nothing beats a case of the Mondays like a camp-out. And we ain't talkin' s'mores, sing-a-longs and psycho killers. We're talking about getting in touch with your guilty pleasure zone. That's right, every Monday we'll be bringing you the best of the worst. It's gonna be awesome - and terrible! - all at the same time.

Photo: moviegoods.com

GREASE (1982)

Movie musical fans seem all jazz-hands-ed about this Grease Sing-A-Long thing. Me? I'm resentful. That sing-a-long is missing something very important, at least in this bowling-themed song lover's heart: a two.

We've all seen, and sang along with, Sandy and Danny as they pranced around the outdoor cafetorium of Rydell High a thousand times. We don't even really need the ill-coloured screen-lyrics. But how many times have we gotten down with Michael and Stephanie while they interpretive dance in slow-motion in the misty skies of masked motorcycle man heaven? NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

Grease 2 may not be as revered as the original. In fact, it's downright reviled. But that doesn't mean it's not worth a watch - or 25. Sure, unlike the first film, which gets by on great singers (Hello, John Travolta!), great acting (What's up, John?) and great chins (Much, love J.), Grease 2 literally has nothing to go on. This awkward 1982 musical sequel (that's sort of enough, right there, isn't it?) stars an obviously unhappy Michelle Pfeiffer, features songs about stamens and fails to adhere to it' supposed time period. It was so bad the Grease crew decided not to go ahead with the 3rd and 4th movies. So I guess in a weird way, you could say it both killed and saved the franchise.

As my old friend Rizzo might say, there are worse things you could watch. But they wouldn't be nearly as fun to make fun of. So throw off your letterman jacket and and pull on pleather pants, Grease-rs. It's time to rock Rydell 1961 style (or is it 1982?)!