A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

The Evaluation System Reviews by Title Reviews by Date

Reviews from Video Reviews of the Classics Personal Background

Title: The Stepford Wives (2004)

Date Viewed: 7/11/04

Details:

Nicole Kidman

Matthew Broderick

Bette Midler

Glenn Close

Christopher Walken

Jon Lovitz

Faith Hill

Director: Frank Oz

Score: -1/2

The Review: Ira Levin's satire rides again, but you'll wish it never left the garage.

There's a quiet, little say guarded and cloistered village assembled in the backwaters of Connecticut, with lots of model homes, model lawns, and model wives: everything happy and well-manicured, almost a male fantasy come true. Only this time around (it's summer: the clones are coming...), it seems to be a last refuge for overachieving executive moms, at least as viewed through the over-medicated and frequently electroshocked eyes of Nicole Kidman. Some of the introductory scenes, where we are shown Kidman's character, are way way over the top -- intentionally so, as befits good satire. But overall, good this satire is not, just a baby step above boring. The acting talent displayed on the marquee is totally wasted on this mess.

Yes, there are some witty one-liners, some interesting sight gags, and some cute technological updates -- but not enough to redeem this woe-begotten remake (revisit instead the original, 1975).

(18-July-04)

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