The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again

Fox's News Division needs to take a lesson from its more progressive entertainment wing. Hard to believe that the ultra-conservative news network would produce a remount of the sci-fi fairy tale of sexual fluidity "The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do The Time Warp Again."

Too bad the televised remount, directed by Kenny Ortega, is tepid, although the celebration of diversity is forever timely (along with the rocking choreography, and music by Cisco Adler, son of original producer Lou Adler). Newly-engaged Brad (Ryan McCartan) and Janet (Victoria Justice, sounding a lot like her forebear Susan Sarandon) have a car breakdown in the rain by a mysterious, crumbling movie theater-cum-castle run by handyman Riff Raff (Reeve Carney, a weak reflection of the indelible character work by creator Richard O'Brien) and domestic Magenta (Christian Milian, working her best middle-school Transylvanian patois). The charming 40-year-old original script, by O'Brien and Jim Sharman, remains quaint -- they're looking for a landline in a cell phone-less world, using a paper newspaper as a makeshift umbrella, experiencing 3D human hook-ups in a social media-free environment.

The most unfortunate choice is Emmy nominee Laverne Cox as transgendered, transsexual mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter: she looks lovely but can't sing or nail down an accent. American Idol Adam Lambert is serviceable as botched experiment biker Eddie, but the standouts are Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford as gum-crackin' assistant Columbia, Tony winner Ben Vereen as Dr. Everett Scott (wearing spirit-gummed bushy brows and white wig), original Frank Tim Curry as the Narrator/Criminologist, and Ivy Levan as the usherette, who narrates the meta frame, complete with the same drippy red credits (the singing red lips pop up at the end).

This new iteration pays homage to the critically disclaimed but cult favorite film, including audience members watching the proceedings in a stunning old theater (shot on location in Toronto), offering human/celluloid repartee, throwing TP when Dr. Scott is introduced, and giving Curry a well-deserved standing O when he's introduced.

DVD features include Laverne Cox's screen tests for "Sweet Transvestite" and "Going Home," a Comic-Con 2016 panel discussion, and "Don't Dream It, Make It: Celebrating Rocky Horror."

I played Magenta at Fairfax, Virginia, midnight showings in the mid-80s, so I have a deep affinity for the original film (having seen/performed in front of it well over a hundred times), a terrible script containing mind-blowing possibilities on sexual experimentation and authentic being, finding joy and loving self, using kitsch and a reverence for American music and cinematic history. Even in this new imperfect form, this call for individuality remains resonant; don't dream it; be it.

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again"
DVD
$9.96
http://www.fox.com/the-rocky-horror-picture-show