41 years ago a small movie known as the Rocky Horror Picture Show came out that later became a cult classic. Now we get a remake of the classic movie, starring Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank-N-Furter and Tim Curry is back but as the narrator. It’s a passing of the torch as the original Dr. Frank-N-Furter is handing off his role to Laverne. So let’s do the Time Warp again as we jump to the left and step right into this review.
I will try to keep this review spoiler free as much as I can, since not much has changed from the original and everything was kept. I think the version that was used the U.K. version since there was two extra songs added from the U.S. version, but I may be wrong since I haven’t watched the original Rocky Horror in a little over a year and a half. The intro song “Science Fiction, Double Feature” was sung this time by the beautiful Ivy Levan. This time we see the person singing the song and it is done in an old theater way which has the audience of the theater involved with the movie.
My two main issues with the movie were the pick for Riff Raff, played by Reeve Carney, and Magenta, played by Christina Milian. Reeve looked either creepy in a perverted kind of way or like if he was constipated and didn’t want to let one rip within the TV-movie. Riff Raff is supposed to be the handyman but Reeve looked more like he belonged in a runway as a model. Someone else could have played Riff Raff instead, but he did look like he was having fun. Christina Milian, as beautiful as she is, she is no Magenta. Patricia Quinn, the original Magenta, had that gothic look that made it feel that she belonged within the Rocky Horror world. Christina Milian looks like she just dyed her hair to a Magenta/pinkish color and tried to act crazy.
Everything else was done right and I found myself enjoying it. I was afraid in the beginning since I love the original. I didn’t want this movie to be changed for the worst. Uncle Willy can testify for me since I have had multiple conversations about this with him.
(Editor Note: he wouldn’t shut up about it!)
I do have to say Victoria Justice and Ryan McCartan did a great job as Janet and Brad respectively. Ryan did overplay a little but his part but still provided the feeling that they belonged as those characters. Staz Nair is the title character, Rocky, who is the creation of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and he did play the role of a child mixed with the Frankenstein monster similar to the original Rocky.
Now on to Laverne Cox, the new Dr. Frank-N-Furter in this TV-movie. I loved her! Laverne oozed Tim Curry’s Frank-N-Furter but with her own spin towards the role. I still say the reveal of Laverne was not too impactful as the reveal to Tim Curry’s Frank-N-Furter, but when she sang Sweet Transvestite, oh you can tell Laverne was waiting for that part. Laverne was meant for this part and she made it her own. I was glad that this version did not go away from the original as it did stick close to everything. I would watch it again and do the Time Warp once more and have my wife and kids laugh at me cause I am a big dork like that.
