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Written by Gregg Shapiro
Feb 24, 2011
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Fruit Fly
‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
For its loyal fan base, the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” experience involves dressing up as characters from the movie and performing on stage as a shadowcast — not to mention talking back to the screen and filling pockets and purses with rice, playing cards, toast, rolls of toilet paper, squirt guns and other accoutrements to be flung at the screen at appropriate moments.
The 35th anniversary Blu-ray edition of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (20th Century Fox) provides a more intimate viewing experience – and it’s one that holds up well. The queer, proto-punk, camp, sci-fi, cannibal, midnight movie cult classic musical is entertaining to watch, with or without the audience participation component.
The story of the innocent couple who undergoes a life-changing experience one stormy night in a castle is both timeless and titillating. Richard O’Brien created a musical that features multiple deflowerings, alien incest, “Frankenstein” and “King Kong” homages, a scantily clad, bleached blond, buffed monster named Rocky – and more than a touch of John Waters’ sensibilities. And, of course, there are the unforgettable tunes, such as “The Time Warp,” “Sweet Transvestite” and “Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me.”
The film proved a significant career launching pad for Susan Sarandon (as virginal Janet), Barry Bostwick (as Janet’s sexy nerd fiancé Brad), rocker Meat Loaf (as bad boy Eddie) and
most importantly Tim Curry (as maniacal, cross-dressing, alien mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter).
The Blu-ray includes extras in abundance, such as the United States and United Kingdom versions of the movie, restored film, deleted musical scenes and outtakes, “The Search for the 35th Anniversary Shadowcast” featurette and much more.
God bless Lili St. Cyr, indeed!
‘Fruit Fly’
Gay filmmaker H.P. Mendoza, who wrote and starred in 2006’s innovative and refreshing “Colma: The Musical,” makes his directorial debut with another musical, “Fruit Fly” (TLA Releasing/ Ersatz). Bethesda (L.A. Renigen, who was so memorable as Maribel in “Colma”) is a straight Filipina performance artist who moves into a San Francisco commune while she tries to find a theater to mount her show.
The house residents, including teen runaway Jacob (Aaron Zaragoza) and lesbian couple Karen (E.S. Park) and Sharon (Theresa Navarro), are as colorful as those who lived at Armistead Maupin’s 28 Barbary Lane. Unfortunately, they’re not nearly as interesting. And it’s hard to find anything likeable about these shallow, self-involved characters.
Bethesda becomes fast friends with gay housemate Windham (Mike Curtis), who is the least problematic character. But their friendship strains beneath the weight of Bethesda’s oversized ego. Thank goodness there are whimsical musical numbers, featuring songs about fag hags, sexual proclivities and the quest for identity, to distract the viewer.
To say that “Fruit Fly” is a disappointment is an understatement. “Colma” is a movie that I still talk about and recommend to people on a regular basis. Regrettably, I’m not sure that I will be able to do the same for “Fruit Fly.”
DVD special features include the behind the scenes featurette “Crew Fly,” a “Fruit Fly Premiere” featurette and more.
