Review of The Stepford Wives (2004) by Ed F — 01 Jun 2010

This is a kitsch, camp and mostly unnecessary remake of the creepy original. Unlike its predecessor, this version swaps the haunting, sinister atmosphere and most of the satirical humour in favour of all-out comedy, with jokes that are not particularly funny and special effects which are just cheap and out of place. Nicole Kidman is a good enough version of the Katherine Ross role, and the film is saved by a calculating turn by ever-brilliant Glenn Close. The main faults with the film is the treatment of the mysterious goings on in Stepford. Whereas the original was full of unknowable intrigue and hidden agendas, the remake makes no bones about telling the audience what is actually going on and what the men's secret actually is, robbing the film of any suspense or genuine interest. It's a pity, because this remake had a great cast, with Christopher Walken as madcap as ever and Bette Midler proving a successful update on the Bobbie Markowe character (previously played to perfection by Paula Prentisse), although the inclusion of jokes surrounding her unequalled jewishness are a little heavyhanded at times. Also, the men are not as overbearing and foreboding as they were previously.

Although it is unfair to compare the remake to the original so closely, the film is unable to match its scary atmosphere, rendering it a hollow and rather unmemorable affair.