Review: 'Stepford Wives' Not Perfect
All-Star Cast Can't Help Confused Script
POSTED: 8:35 am CDT June 11, 2004
'The Stepford Wives' (PG-13)
(out of four)In an era of extreme makeovers, a new look at "The Stepford Wives" couldn't be more timely.An all-star cast including Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler, Glenn Close, Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken and Faith Hill turn up in the town of Stepford, Conn. Kidman is a burned-out television executive whose network's trademark shows are reality-based TV series. One of the highlights of the movie begins early on when Joanna Eberhart is showing TV affiliates some previews of new shows coming to the fictional EBS network.Two hilarious takeoffs of "Survivor" and "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" set the tone for this less-than-serious remake of "The Stepford Wives." It's a great technique to let moviegoers know they aren't in for the exact replica of the original movie made in 1975.After Eberhart goes too far with one of her shows and a reality cast member comes back to kill her, the network decides it's best to send her packing. Husband, Walter (Matthew Broderick) takes the clue and packs the family up and takes them to the idyllic town of Stepford and out of the black cloud of Manhattan.(Inside jokes about New York abound in the film and if you're not familiar with Manhattan and its idiosyncrasies, you'll wonder what some of the one-liners are about.)The family is greeted by Claire Wellington (Glenn Close) and her welcome wagon. Wellington leads the activities in Stepford, including "Claireaerobics," a class where beautifully coiffed women in Lilly Pulitzer dresses learn to exercise while doing household chores.In step with the classic thriller, the tale is a classic fish out of water, with a few twists thrown in. Eberhart bonds with two other newcomers to Stepford. Best-selling book author Bobbie Markowitz (Bette Midler) and gay architect Roger (Roger Bart).One problem with "The Stepford Wives" is, besides its addition of a gay character and Christmas jokes aimed at Markowitz's Jewish heritage, the Connecticut town lacks any diversity.Even Bobbie Markowitz comments at the town picnic that it is "disturbing" that there are no African Americans, no Asian Americans or Native Americans. But the point is never addressed any further -- leaving the film way too homogenized.There are other flaws including an ending which leans toward the macabre and Mrs. Wellington clutching the severed head of a robot (in bad taste after the horrifying Nick Berg decapitation in Iraq, although I do understand the movie was completed before the incident.)As for singer Hill's movie debut, she barely speaks any lines, but does have the best scene in the film where she spins wildly out of control at the town square dance. Also disappointing is Broderick who is miscast as Joanna's understanding husband. The relationship between the two is barely believable and Broderick's acting leads you to believe if he's been Stepfordized.I had high hopes for "The Stepford Wives," but like the concept of the movie itself, nothing is always what it seems.
(out of four)In an era of extreme makeovers, a new look at "The Stepford Wives" couldn't be more timely.An all-star cast including Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler, Glenn Close, Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken and Faith Hill turn up in the town of Stepford, Conn. Kidman is a burned-out television executive whose network's trademark shows are reality-based TV series. One of the highlights of the movie begins early on when Joanna Eberhart is showing TV affiliates some previews of new shows coming to the fictional EBS network.Two hilarious takeoffs of "Survivor" and "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" set the tone for this less-than-serious remake of "The Stepford Wives." It's a great technique to let moviegoers know they aren't in for the exact replica of the original movie made in 1975.After Eberhart goes too far with one of her shows and a reality cast member comes back to kill her, the network decides it's best to send her packing. Husband, Walter (Matthew Broderick) takes the clue and packs the family up and takes them to the idyllic town of Stepford and out of the black cloud of Manhattan.(Inside jokes about New York abound in the film and if you're not familiar with Manhattan and its idiosyncrasies, you'll wonder what some of the one-liners are about.)The family is greeted by Claire Wellington (Glenn Close) and her welcome wagon. Wellington leads the activities in Stepford, including "Claireaerobics," a class where beautifully coiffed women in Lilly Pulitzer dresses learn to exercise while doing household chores.In step with the classic thriller, the tale is a classic fish out of water, with a few twists thrown in. Eberhart bonds with two other newcomers to Stepford. Best-selling book author Bobbie Markowitz (Bette Midler) and gay architect Roger (Roger Bart).One problem with "The Stepford Wives" is, besides its addition of a gay character and Christmas jokes aimed at Markowitz's Jewish heritage, the Connecticut town lacks any diversity.Even Bobbie Markowitz comments at the town picnic that it is "disturbing" that there are no African Americans, no Asian Americans or Native Americans. But the point is never addressed any further -- leaving the film way too homogenized.There are other flaws including an ending which leans toward the macabre and Mrs. Wellington clutching the severed head of a robot (in bad taste after the horrifying Nick Berg decapitation in Iraq, although I do understand the movie was completed before the incident.)As for singer Hill's movie debut, she barely speaks any lines, but does have the best scene in the film where she spins wildly out of control at the town square dance. Also disappointing is Broderick who is miscast as Joanna's understanding husband. The relationship between the two is barely believable and Broderick's acting leads you to believe if he's been Stepfordized.I had high hopes for "The Stepford Wives," but like the concept of the movie itself, nothing is always what it seems.Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
