Overall rating

4 / 5

Well....good but far from great...

PostedNovember 1, 2010

from Queens, NY

Ok lets start this with, I've been attending Rocky shows for 25yrs going back to the 8th Street Playhouse, and then off to Queens at the Midway theater. My friends and I went last night because it was the 35th Anniversary and we wanted to see if the traditions still are kept.

We didn't have a problem with the selling of prop bags, actually we were saying that wow...we should have done that! We didn't have a problem with the dance music before the show either, it's a great way to get everyone in the audience up on their feet.

The problems we had were primarily timing issues...and Eddie's content. Lets start with timing...getting into the theater at 12;15AM presents a problem, a logistical one from a theatrical standpoint. Everything is now going to run late, and if it's not guided back on track, one looses it all together. That is exactly what happened last night. The timing was off getting people inside, then there was the great inclusion of having the "virgins" go up on stage and the raffle. The added two films were interesting, but time consuming and in light of the "event" as a whole, I cannot see the necessity of including both. One should have been cut.

Timing was also VERY off with the lines...there were primarily two participants shouting lines back at the screen without anyone helping/coaching the audience in what they were to respond. Again, it happens in every theater, not a problem...but there's the old saying...say it loud, say it together...or don't say it at all.

The cast member playing Eddie was off the chart. The things coming out of his mouth the ENTIRE movie were just retarded half the time...and to be totally honest, it detracted from the show. The audience participation is and WAS meant to be done at specific pauses or breaks in the dialog...NOT to be an on-running continuous monologue throughout the entire movie. Our group is far from close minded, far from timid...but the stuff coming out of his mouth was simply unnecessary....the comment about Mother Theresa, the comment about Patrick Swayze, and the comment about the Rutgers student? Come on kid, get your act together and stick to the script, stick to what's funny, and has "worked" for generations. Another thing that our group noticed was that even when people started getting pissed at Eddie...and BELIEVE me there were quite a few...the other cast member kept it going making contemptuous comments toward the people in the audience. WTF? Are you kidding me? That is NOT what this movie is about, at all. The lines, when they DID come out with the right timing were hysterical as always, the cast performed their parts with precision and we were totally impressed.

Except for Riff...what was up with the guy not wearing the Riff wig? Great that he put the costume on, great that he knew his lines...cue's...but what happened, did someone misplace the Riff wig? Did he just not want to do it, thinking that noone would notice...that he was taking theatrical license by NOT wearing the wig? Um...no...didn't work, looked stupid without it, sorry.

In all, we had a great time, and we think that the show can be MUCH better if you can put a leash on Eddie's mouth, stick to the standard lines, but with new fresh commentary...at the RIGHT INSTANCES....to hear this guy shout his own lines throughout the ENTIRE movie got old really fast. Keep up the good work and remember...grow...grow...grow!

Yes, I recommend this movie.

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