SPOILERS AHEAD
Another day, another reimagination of a perfectly good book/film (delete as applicable). I came in with mixed expectations concerning this one (had many good attributes- Glenn Close, Nicole Kidman, Frank Oz, Jon Lovitz, and also many bad ones- Bette Midler, Bette Midler, Bette Midler and Matthew Broderick). I came out with a feeling of disgust.
Most of the problems with the movie derive from the script. We're supposed to be believe these women are having their personality and individuality sacrificed, which is fine. However, these woman come across as stereotypes, and horribly unbelievable ones, before the Stepfordisation of them, starts. Nicole is the career-fixated woman, who hasn't got any time for her family or husband. Midler is the "kooky" individualist. The film becomes even more crass with a grotesque depiction of a gay couple, seemingly stuck in there for cheap, offensive laughs.
As a satire it also is doomed from the beginning. Oz wants to discuss the increasing feeling of male powerlessness in a changing world, where men see their traditional role as provider, threatened by women. A final twist or two near the end reverses this however, rendering any social commentary completely superfluous, and if anything, in a strangely conservative turn, actually re-asserting traditional family values.
But it's Hollywood, I hear you cry. Does it need to be intellectual? It's got big stars, who all seem comfortable in their roles, it has some genuinely funny laughs, a memorable title sequence and generally manages to sustain your interest for its 93 minutes. It's entertaining, so why want more? Because the film has pretensions for more. It wants to discuss more, but is caught up in political correctness, campy comedy and lazy writing.
It could have been a great modern update of a 70s cult fave. However, The Stepford Wives sinks under the weight of the issues it raises, leaving the audience with more questions than answers, mixed messages and an absolutely atrocious final 15 minutes, which seems to undermine everything that went before, and then some. Wait for the DVD.
Another day, another reimagination of a perfectly good book/film (delete as applicable). I came in with mixed expectations concerning this one (had many good attributes- Glenn Close, Nicole Kidman, Frank Oz, Jon Lovitz, and also many bad ones- Bette Midler, Bette Midler, Bette Midler and Matthew Broderick). I came out with a feeling of disgust.
Most of the problems with the movie derive from the script. We're supposed to be believe these women are having their personality and individuality sacrificed, which is fine. However, these woman come across as stereotypes, and horribly unbelievable ones, before the Stepfordisation of them, starts. Nicole is the career-fixated woman, who hasn't got any time for her family or husband. Midler is the "kooky" individualist. The film becomes even more crass with a grotesque depiction of a gay couple, seemingly stuck in there for cheap, offensive laughs.
As a satire it also is doomed from the beginning. Oz wants to discuss the increasing feeling of male powerlessness in a changing world, where men see their traditional role as provider, threatened by women. A final twist or two near the end reverses this however, rendering any social commentary completely superfluous, and if anything, in a strangely conservative turn, actually re-asserting traditional family values.
But it's Hollywood, I hear you cry. Does it need to be intellectual? It's got big stars, who all seem comfortable in their roles, it has some genuinely funny laughs, a memorable title sequence and generally manages to sustain your interest for its 93 minutes. It's entertaining, so why want more? Because the film has pretensions for more. It wants to discuss more, but is caught up in political correctness, campy comedy and lazy writing.
It could have been a great modern update of a 70s cult fave. However, The Stepford Wives sinks under the weight of the issues it raises, leaving the audience with more questions than answers, mixed messages and an absolutely atrocious final 15 minutes, which seems to undermine everything that went before, and then some. Wait for the DVD.