For some reason, TV musicals have become a thing, but “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is … different. A parody ode to old sci-fi and horror B movies , the 1975 musical comedy horror film (yes, all these apply) has been a mainstay in theaters since then. Having been to a few showings, I sat down to see if Fox’s remake, “Let’s Do the Time Warp Again,” does the original any justice.
What happens?
After their car breaks down, recently engaged Brad (Ryan McCartan) and Janet (Victoria Justice) venture for help to the mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Laverne Cox), a gender-fluid mad scientist with a cult of weird and wacky followers. A la Frankenstein, Frank-N-Furter brings his creation Rocky (Staz Nair) to life, and Brad and Janet get pulled further into Frank-N-Furter’s world when their sexuality is awakened by Frank-N-Furter seducing them—separately.
What’s good?
Props to Fox for venturing outside the musical comfort zone. Cox absolutely commands the screen as Frank-N-Furter, channeling the spirit of the original while also making the character her own (Tim Curry, Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 film, plays the narrator in this remake).
What’s bad?
Oooh boy. The movie within a movie format is really bad. Fox’s remake is actually about a theater of people watching “TRHPS,” so the camera sporadically cuts back to them doing the audience participation rituals that have become “Rocky Horror” tradition. It’s a nod to the film’s cult following, but it’s forced, confusing and plainly doesn’t work.
The remake also waters down the sexual edge, instead relying heavily on amping the camp. When your most famous song has the lyrics “do the pelvic thrust” along with corresponding choreography, cutting away during the actual thrusting is pretty … unsatisfying. Understandable for a primetime network broadcast, but then why choose to do “Rocky Horror” at al?
Final verdict
“Rocky Horror” fans might as well give it a shot, if only to renew your conviction that watching it in a theater full of half-drunk bozos is the best way to watch this movie. If you have no idea what this has all been about, go out and find the nearest theater showing “TRHPS” and turn in your “Rocky Horror” V-card there instead.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again
1.5 stars
7 p.m. Thursday, Fox
@elisekdelo | ekdelossantos@redeyechicago.com
