Ever since I had first seen the 1975 cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show, it's held a special place in my heart. Tim Curry took strides in drag that the mainstream hadn't really seen before. He opened up the discussion of sexual fluidity, and inspired many to feel comfortable in their skin. This being said, the 2016 reboot gave red flags as soon as I heard Victoria Justice was cast as Janet Weiss. With the sudden uprising in remakes of classics, such as Grease Live, I didn't have much faith in this reboot being anything more than a lackluster fabrication with 'hot' faces. I am a true believer in 'if it isn't broken don't fix it' and classics such as Grease, Rocky, Cabaret, A Star is Born, and so on shouldn't be touched. They were great the first time, sit down and take notes. Anyway, here is my stream of consciousness thoughts while watching the 2016 reboot of The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do The Time Warp Again.
1. I don't mind that they acted out the opening number instead of just looking at some pretty red lips for three minutes.
2. Anyone notice the lipstick was definitely outside her natural lip line?
3. Love the funeral procession behind the bride right after the nuptials.
4. I don't mind the new Brad and Janet so far...![]()
5. I thoroughly enjoy "Dammit Janet" it's such a funny number
6. Also, LOVE Tim Curry being the moderator!!! YES.
7. The theater of people watching the moderator and the events unfolding is hommage to the cult following the original inspired. Let me tell you, if you haven't gone to a Halloween viewing or live performance IT IS THE BEST.
8. Riff Raff played by Reeve Carney is great! I watched all three seasons of Penny Dreadful, it's great to see him branching out!
9. Original "Time Warp" was better. Sorry Reeve and Christina.
10. Enter Dr. Frankenfurter. To slay or not to slay?
11. What up with the head piece/mask?![]()
12. SLAYYYY Laverne!
13. Probably the rightest thing I've seen so far is Laverne as the Dr. When I heard she was cast as him I was so excited! And rightly so!
14. Riff Raff so nonchalantly undressing Janet. Priceless.
15. Columbia doesn't seem as crazy as the original... we shall see.
16. The Dr.'s lipstick thoughhhhhhhh YES.
17. Reeve and Laverne were well cast. End of story.
18. The lab in the original was more sterile, yet this new lab does impress.
19. Let's see about the new Rocky...
20. He looks like a super buff surfer dude... and I don't hate it...
21. Where's the speedo though???
22. Eddie didn't come out of the freezer. THE HELL?
23. Also, Meatloaf was the original Eddie, Adam Lambert has not reached even a third of the success Meatloaf has. No. No no no! I'm not negating that Lambert has amazing vocals, but come on.
24. the guy playing Rocky is doing dumb very well. What if it's not really acting? lol
25. The Dr. just killed Eddie. NO. Not following the original. Stop.
26. Columbia and Eddie's relationship and Dr. Frank-n-furter's betrayal was completely overlooked. COME ON.
27. The Dr. visiting Janet's bed. Entertaining as always, but Victoria Justice just isn't cutting it for me as Janet...
28. The Dr. visiting Janet's bed. Even better! Brad is so dramatic, it's great!
29. "Touch Me" is surprisingly not bad.
30. Rocky is such a dummy I can't get over it!
31. Columbia and Magenta's commentary is great.
32. The end was slightly less sexual than the original; the original left nothing to the imagination, they got it on. But the new one has Janet jumping Rocky as the scene closes, eh.
33. GREAT SCOTT! *Que toilet paper throw*
34. If you didn't get the above joke, shame. Shame upon you.
35. Dr. slaying at the 'Last Supper' dinner table.
36. PARTY. HATS. ON.
37. Raw meat slabs. Yummy...
38. Columbia's dramatic exit from dinner was the most accurate portrayal of her yet.
39. Wheelchair choreography, 10/10 would recommend.
40. Eddie under the dinner table! WHAT!
41. Janet's heels: sparkly and fabulous, yes.
42. Brad's faces are so entertaining. Always.
43. Columbia's monologue about the bad romance the Dr. gives is very relatable I feel, "you chew people up and spit them out. You're like a sponge." PREACH.
44. Christina took the whole "Transylvania" thing too far with the accent if you ask me...
45. Why aren't they all in corsets and lingerie??? Come on.
46. I enjoy the rose glitter ensemble the Dr. is wearing, despite it not being closer to the original number's costume.
47. Pool orgy, accurate.
48. Brad shaking his booty behind Dr. Scott! Oh my goodness!!
49. Alien Riff Raff and Magenta costuming is fabulous!
50. Laverne in glittering gold outfits is great. She looks flawless in every costume, always.
51. The Doc is DOWN! NOOOOOO.
52. NOOOO ROCKYYYY!
53. JUST REALIZED THAT MAGENTA AND RIFF RAFF ONLY DID THEIR HANDSHAKE ONCE. ONE DAMN TIME! IN THE ENTIRE PRODUCTION.![]()
54. COME. ON.
55. That irritates me much more than it should. But COME ON.
56. The lips in the ending credits are trying too hard. Go home.
I did enjoy this remake far more than Grease Live, but of course it is no original. I absolutely loved when Laverne Cox was cast as Dr. Frank-n-furter, and the new Brad was fun to watch! I get casting Justice because she does have a good girl image, but I don't think she has the chops for more than Nickelodeon... All in all, it was compared to the original, but nothing can ever compete with it. And, if you've never been able to attend a Halloween viewing or a live performance of Rocky then I suggest you do as soon as possible! I had the pleasure of seeing a live performance my freshman year of college, we got goodie bags with all of the necessary props i.e. newspaper, party hats, bells and whistles, scott toilet tissue, the works! AND I also got a picture with the doctor after the show was over! I've never been so attracted to a man in drag.
