The Stepford Wives (2004, DVD)

I am a major fan of the original Stepford Wives which came out in 1975. It was creepy as hell. All those normal women being turned into the Beav's Mom... only like times 10. So when I heard there was going to be a remake I was very anxious to see it. I loved it too. Not quite as much as the original, but just about.

This time around we have the gorgeous and talented Nicole Kidman in the role of Joanna Eberhart, a very successful business woman who is having some difficulties with her marriage. This time around she's a big time TV exec though instead of a photographer. They do still move to the apparently idyllic town of Stepford though to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. Couldn't learn the first time around.. oh no. Dolts!

Playing off of Kidman are many big names such as the Divine Miss Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken, Faith Hill, Glenn Close... tons of great folks. We do of course still have the nefarious Men's Club and all the local wimins being the perfect little wifeys. This time around though is isn't as subtle. Well, ok, so the first one I didn't think was awfully subtle either.. until I saw this one.

We aren't playing a straight horror flick here. We're playing a pseudo-dark comedy this time around. So it's all very over the top and outrageous. You know right away that things are being done to these females once they arrive in Stepford... and you know those damn males are at the core of it immediately. (Aren't they always?)

There are tons of great jokes running through this one that will have you rolling and groaning. My favorite addition here is the gay couple. Where Tina Louise played the third musketeer in the original, this time it's a very cute Roger Bart as Roger Bannister. He's a fairly flamboyant err wife... until his mate moves him to Stepford of course.

Another change is the ending. They re-film several scenes true to the original for nostalgia's sake, but the ending is completely off the wall and not even close to the same. In fact, you see the original ending scene and almost get up to leave, and then it goes on for another oooh 15-20 minutes. At first I was slightly annoyed and asking myself what are they thinking? But by the true end of it I was rollin' again and loved it. it worked once I saw where they were going.

Is it hokey? Yep. Make no mistake. They meant it to be. It's stupid, unlikely... and extremely fun. The cast had a blast with their parts and it showed through in some delightful ways.

This ran approx an hour and 45 minutes (just my guestimate) and is Rated PG-13 for sexual content, thematic material and language. Well, the really good ones will fly over Junior's head. There were a group of teenaged girls sitting next to me just dying in laughter. So yes absolutely to teens. The young kids won't get it, as I said, but neither do I think they will enjoy it a great deal. The humor is really older in nature so just leave 'em home. Not because it'll warp 'em, but because it'll bore 'em.

I was far from bored, and not disappointed. I'm going with 4 stars and saying worth every penny of admission.