The term “triple threat” refers to someone who can sing, dance, and act.Olivia Newton-Johnmight not have invented the concept but she was one of the talented performers that made it a reality. Her best movies blend all three of these talents and help make the musical genre popular again, although her impressive body of work includes some of everything.
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It was a time whenmusicals, both traditional ones, and modern rock operas, were trending in every drive-thru. Olivia Newton-John had already been working as a singer and dancer when she broke into the Hollywood scene. Her recent passing marks the end of an era in media. Even if the movie was not great, she elevated its quality with her musical talent.
6Grease (1978)
This is the one that everyone knows, and it was the breakthrough role and made Olivia Newton-John a household name, so it makes sense forGreaseto be the opener. John plays leading lady Sandy Olsson, the new girl in town who falls for bad boy Danny Zuko, played by a young John Travolta.
This movie and its iconic soundtrack spawned a revival in the 1990s, so it’s also a title the kids know. It was a version ofRomeo and JulietorThe Outsiderswhere nobody dies and the heroes end up together at the end. The story and style were from a bygone time that was heavily idealized, and that’s why everyone loved it. The song that Olivia-Newton John shares with John Travolta at the end, “You’re The One That I Want” is still one of the most popular duets in history.
5Sordid Lives (2000)
A family of modest means gathers in their humble Texas hometown to mourn the death of the family matriarch, and what follows is the revelation of some verySordid Lives. The movie got mixed reviews from critics and was hampered by a limited release because of its indie status and relatively low budget, but generated a strong cult following that was enough for a series and a sequel.
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John plays Bitsy Mae Harling, the best friend of Peggy Ingram, sister of the recently deceased. Viacom produced the spinoff television series,Sordid Lives: The Series, which aired in 2008. This was followed almost ten years later by the sequel in 2017,A Very Sordid Wedding.
4Xanadu (1980)
No other timethan the cusp of the 1970s to 1980scould a musical fantasy film be this popular, butXanaduwas at the right place at the right time. The production got a lot of credit for successfully mixing a vintage idea from a Romantic poem with a modern design despite the naysayers that criticized the acting and special effects.
The title of the movie comes from a line in a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge,Kubla Khan,which describes the opulent summer palaces of a Chinese emperor in a place called Xanadu. Olivia Newton-John plays Kira, the roller-skating goddess who acts as a muse for Sonny, a sincere but distraught artist, as they fall in love under the shining lights of a disco ball.
3A Few Best Men (2011)
A Few Best Menplays on the title of another popular movie, but that was a drama, and the comedic plot here is focused on a wedding and has nothing to do with the army. In a tale as old as time, David meets a girl while on vacation and gathers his three friends for his whirlwind nuptials in Australia. Chaos ensues as they get into trouble with local mobsters and farmers during the trip.
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It isn’t exactly a critical darling, with most of the credit going to the soundtrack. Not only does John play the bride’s mother, Barbara Ramme, but she’s also responsible for most of the music which explains why it’s one of the best things about the movie.
2The Wilde Girls (2001)
John plays Jasmine Wilde, a famous singer whose daughter wants to follow in her footsteps. 14-year-old Izzy has already been spotted by a talent agent, so mom knows her kid has what it takes, but Jasmine is less than enthused.Stardom isn’t always fun, and she has to decide whether to let Izzy follow in her footsteps and take her chances or shelter her from the public storm.
The movie was a direct-to-TV production that was filmed on the Gold Coast and in Queensland Australia. It’s heartwarming and sweet, not Oscar material but great for what it is, and of course, there’s lots of music.
1Score: A Hockey Musical (2010)
Switching from the heat of the Outback to the canoes of cottage country, Nelly Furtado and Marc Jordan also join the cast to sing about Canada’s favorite pastime, hockey. The cast includes several famous Canadians in cameos or bit parts, such as former MuchMusic Video Jockey George Stroumboulopoulos as an arena announcer.
Olivia Newton-John plays Hope Gordon, the main character Farley’s mom, and she sings one of the songs on the soundtrack, “Hugs.” Farley Gordon is a sheltered lad whose best friend is the girl next door. He’s content with his quiet homeschooled life until a twist of fate reveals he’sa talented hockey playerand the discovery turns his comfortable life upside-down. After signing a contract and getting some publicity, his relationships start to change in ways he doesn’t like, but is there any going back?
