The Stepford Wives

Plot Summary

Joanna Eberhart (Nicole Kidman) is the head of a TV network company. She is a confident, hardworking, career woman but when one of her reality TV shows goes horribly wrong she is sacked from her job. She has a nervous breakdown and to help her recover, her husband, Walter (Matthew Broderick), relocates the family to the wealthy, idyllic village of Stepford. Joanna and Walter find the people of Stepford a little strange. They live in fantastic immaculate houses surrounded by beautiful gardens and lawns. The husbands play golf and go to their mens club and the beautiful Stepford wives clean, shop and bake. In fact, with a smile, they look after every little whim their husbands have. Everyone appears to be perfectly happy but could things be so perfect? Behind the beaming smiles of the Stepford wives lies a big secret...

Review

This is a comic remake of a much more sinister thriller about the strange inhabitants of Stepford, a small idyllic village. It starts off by poking some fun at Reality TV shows and this is a clever introduction to a movie that questions what is real and what isn't.  Another question asked is; What is perfection? If you are really in the mood for pondering what about the question; Is 'perfection' real? The fact that our main character Joanna is a powerful TV network director is also fitting.  How real is TV? All these 'reality' ideas in a Hollywood movie! How real is Hollywood? I could go on forever! The movie is best at the start when the humour is at its most mocking and cutting. Unfortunately it doesn't keep up the satirical touch to the very end and the movie seems to lose its momentum in the second half.

The way in which the perfect wives of Stepford are portrayed is very funny. Wearing colourful summer dresses, pink ribbons and full makeup, the ever smiling wives go about their chores of shopping, cleaning, cooking and baking. Their enormous houses are immaculate and their gardens well tended. They never complain and they all idolise their husbands. Things can't be this harmonious and there has to be something weird going on in the village. It isn't long before the secret comes out...

There is a great cast in the movie.  In particular Nicole Kidman and Glenn Close give strong performances. Nicole Kidman is great as the TV network director.  Her contrived, over zealous, presentation before a packed theatre of TV network affiliates is excellent and her reaction when she is sacked is great. Glenn Close plays Claire the 'leader' of the Stepford wives who offers advice and training so that they can be the best wives possible. Her character is so happy and smiley her face must have ached during filming. There is strong support from Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken and Roger Bart.

Bottom Line: This quirky comedy won't appeal to everyone but it is very funny even if it doesn't keep up the momentum to the somewhat weak ending.

Lasting Thought:  Perfection isn't everything it's cracked up to be!

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2004.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS:  FRANK OZ:  The Score.  NICOLE KIDMAN:  Cold Mountain,  Moulin Rouge,  The Others,  The Hours.  CHRISTOPHER WALKEN:  Catch Me If You Can.

Genre: Comedy

Certificate: 15's

Director: Frank Oz

The Stepford Wives (2004)
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~ Main Cast ~

Nicole Kidman

Bette Midler

Glenn Close

Matthew Broderick

Christopher Walken

Roger Bart

RATING

WORTH A WATCH