The Rocky Horror Picture Show Recap Feat Adam Lambert (VIDEO)

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW: Let's Do The Time Warp Again: L-R: Annaleigh Ashford and Adam Lambert in THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW: Let's Do The Time Warp Again, premiering Thursday, Oct. 20 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Steve Wilkie/FOX

Let’s Do the Time Warp Again! Tonight, FOX presents a two hour reimagining of the iconic 1975 movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show featuring Ryan McCartan and Victoria Justice as the sweethearts who stumble upon Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s (Laverne Cox) bizarre abode.

The presentation also stars American Idol alum Adam Lambert as Eddie, Reeve Carney as Riff Raff, Annaleigh Ashford as Columbia, Christina Milian as Magenta, Ivy Levan as Usherette, Ben Vereen as Dr. Everett Scott and Emmy Award nominee Tim Curry, the original Frank-N-Furter, as the show’s Criminologist Narrator.

Celebrating 40 years of theatrical distribution – longer than any other film in history – The Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of the most popular films of all time, and still plays in movie theaters around the world.

UPDATE: Let’s get the positive out of the way first. Adam Lambert took to the role of Eddie, the rock n’ roll biker, with just the right amount of over the top relish. Additionally, it’s always a joy when the American Idol singer is given the opportunity to belt out a raucous rock number. He was tons of fun to watch.

But overall, I didn’t really enjoy FOX’s updated version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The production rounded off the edges of the original production without adding anything new. The 1975 movie was kind of a nonsensical mess to begin with. Just like the original version, the best songs and bits were in the first half of the show. By the last third of the production, the story and songs devolve into a shambles.

But in 1975 coherence wasn’t the point. Queer kids and misfits didn’t have much in the way of pop culture to validate their identities. Rocky Horror must have been a revelation for those kids at the time. The midnight screenings gave them an event on which to create a shared community. It was powerful. And completely of it’s time and place.

Any update of Rocky Horror should have at least attempted to keep some of its provocative elements intact. This safe, bland version had me nodding off by the second hour.

Part of the problem was Frank-N-Furter, played by Laverne Cox. FOX cast the trans actress because she’s talented, but with the side benefit of keeping the production in line with a contemporary awareness of trans identities. Transvestite is a loaded word these days. Casting Cox seemed like the prudent thing to do.

However, the big saving grace of the original movie was Tim Curryq, who created a compelling character that embodied a delicious androgyny–a perfect and evocative blend of masculine and feminine sexuality. As flawed as the original movie was, I could NOT take my eyes off of Curry. He was mesmerizing.

Simply put–Cox was too feminine for the role. There was no masculine edge aside from her deep voice. And the singing, was middling at best. She lacked the danger and charisma Curry brought to the character.

Speaking of which: It was a nice touch to cast Curry as the Criminologist Narrator. Who better to serve as the omniscient voice of the remake? Overall, I’d give the new production a C.

Time Warp

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About mj santilli 34832 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!