The Stepford Wives (Special
Collectors Edition) starring Nicole
Kidman, Bette Midler, Matthew
Broderick, Glenn Close, Christopher
Walken
A Great Remake For The 21St Century...
An all-star cast remakes the 1975 socio-political horror flick, The Stepford
Wives. After being fired as president of a television network, Joanna
(Nicole Kidman, Moulin Rouge) has a nervous breakdown, prompting her
husband Walter (Matthew Broderick, Election) to take her to a simple
Connecticut town called Stepford to recuperate. But Stepford is a little
strange: The schlubby husbands congregate at a closed-doors mens club,
while the wives--all in bright summer frocks and air-brushed smiles--
exercise to keep their hourglass figures and cook endless pastries.
Joanna, along with new arrivals Bobbie (Bette Midler, Beaches) and Roger
(the very funny Roger Bart), soon disc over that the mastermind of Stepford
(Christopher Walken, Communion) has used cybernetics to perfect
womankind. The Stepford Wives has some satirical zingers (from sneaky
screenwriter Paul Rudnick, Addams Family Values), but the basic idea has
lost a lot of gas since 1975. Also featuring Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction). --
Bret Fetzer
I consider unfair that the Stepford Wives 2004 remake by Director Frank
Oz, received such poor comments and bad reviews... Perhaps, its that
reviewers did not understood that it was an adaptation of the original
1970s movie to the social, fiscal and political situation that the nation was
(and is) undergoing. The superb cast included recognized artists as Nicole
Kidman, Glenn Close, Bette Midler and Christopher Walken.
The plot was updated to the 21st Century. Joanna, the most recognized
TV celebrity of NY suffers an emotional crisis after one of their hosts
portrayed on her Reality TV show shoots his wife, her six lovers and tries
to kill Joanna on stage. After a series of electroshocks, she regains
memory now living in the perfect town of Stepford.
Even though Joanna finds the wives from Stepford somewhat unique, it is
not until she meets Bobbie (Bette Milder) and Roger (Roger Bart) that the
three decide on finding out the mystery of why these women are so
perfect. Worth mentioning that Bobbie and Roger had also suffered of
depression and moved to Stepford thinking it was the ideal and happy
town. For the rest of the plot, rent the movie but watch it with an open mind
and relate it to issues and situations that current social dogmas require
people to undergo adaptation with.
Its all a comedy and a critique of stagnation and current conventionalist
trends that some people and communities decide to adopt in order to
survive specific situations. After watching this movie, it was so easy for me
to relate it to many processes and issues that were happening five years
ago...
Once I saw this 2004 adaptation, did watch the 1970 original movie for the
first time. By all means, the remake is much better than the original. If you
can understand that it has been three decades of evolution for society, you
will enjoy the movie as much as I did. Remember, the original movie was a
thriller but the 2004 remake is a comedy of critique to our society.
BTW, Fate had it that Roger Bart would be acting again with Matthew
Broderick a year later in the film version of Mel Brookes musical The
Producers where he plays the role of Carmen Ghia. After all, this remake
is worth watching.
For More 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price:
The Stepford Wives (Special Collectors Edition) starring Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler,
Matthew Broderick, Glenn Close, Christopher Walken - 5 Star Customer Reviews and
Lowest Price!