What was Johnny Depp like back in 1990 before he became an Oscar-nominated pirate genius? Possibly still a genius? John Waters uses the young thespian, then transitioning out of 21 Jump Street, to fine effect in this send-up of 50s juvenile delinquency pictures. Ricki Lake, Iggy Pop, Troy Donahue, Polly Bergen, and ex-porno starlet Traci Lords lend to the fun and music. Here, unlike Waters Cecil B. DeMented, the tone is affectionate camp, not strident screeching. Depp pokes fun at his Tiger Beat teen-idol image, but nobodys dumping on the filmsthen and nowthat made such melodramatic eye-candy of the troubled-hormone set. (PG-13) BRIAN MILLER
July 25-Aug. 6, 7 & 9:30 p.m., 2009
