On DVD: The Stepford Wives

I was a big fan of the TV movies of The Stepford Wives. Way before big
budget special effects and mega salaries The Stepford Wives managed to
convey a spooky, creepy, futuristic message that played well for the time it
came out. When I went to see this version of the Stepford Wives I was
wondering how the producers would handle the subtle suspense that the TV
movies pulled off. Five minutes into the movie it was apparent that all of
the subtle creepiness was replaced with comedic tone and it worked
well...for the most part.

Nicole Kidman plays a studio executive that created a reality show that
caused one of the contestants to go postal, Kidman is fired, has a nervous
breakdown and moves to Stepford with her husband and kids to start all over.
Of course Kidman deduces that all the wives in Stepford are gorgeous and
obedient and the husbands are mediocre and obnoxious. The Stepford carnival
is being run by Glenn Close and Christopher Walken, two names I never
thought I would mention in the same sentence. Better yet Matthew Broderick
plays Kidman's husband and Better Midler shows up to play a neurotic New
Yorker, typecasting at its best.Stepford Wives was entertaining and even
funny when Kidman, Midler and a gay neighbor were intent on finding out what
the hell was going on in Stepford. This trio produced some genuine laughs
in addition, you couldn’t help but cheer for them as they stumble around Stepford like
amateur sleuths. I only wish the movie would have stayed on that course a
little longer. When the jig is finally up the movie turned into a preachy,
over dramatic "hollywood movie".
I have to admit something here. Nicole Kidman did a great job and showed
that she can do comedy very well. She was over the top and hilarious and
Subdued and sarcastic, her appearance and seemed to change right before you
eyes when the script called for it. I am not a huge fan of hers but she was
pretty good in this movie. Midler was Midler and that's a good thing, Walken
was Walken and that's sometimes a good thing. Glenn Close surprised me most,
she was charmingly disturbing as the hostess of Stepford and she pulled it
off with ease, good to see her back on screen. Stepford as whole was not
bad, didn’t blow me away but it wasn’t bad, the first and second acts were
entertaining but the payoff was lacking. Not saying that it was bad but the
journey was a lot more fun than the destination.