The Stepford Wives (Special Collector's Edition)

The Stepford Wives (Special Collector's Edition)
by Frank Oz

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Movie Reviews of The Stepford Wives (Special Collector's Edition)

Movie Review: This movie has remained relevant for my generation
Summary: 5 Stars

After she is fired from her network executive position and then suffers a nervous breakdown, Joanna Eberhard (Nicole Kidman) and her family move to the idyllic town of Stepford Connecticut. Priding herself on independence and strength, Joanna is quickly horrified to learn that most of the town's female residents are unabashed throwbacks to the idealized version of the 1950s, and Mike Wellington (Christopher Walken) presides over a quasi-secret men's club while wife Claire exherts a parallel pull over most female residents. Joanna quickly bonds with fellow outcast Bobbie Markowitz (Bette Middler), a writer who has remained cynical about the hamlet AND retained liberation despite her own long-term Stepford residence.

Contrasting with the earlier film (which arrived shortly after the stonewall rebellion and before GLBT Americans came out in today's numbers), this version has an openly gay couple in the town---Roger Banister (Roger Bart) and Jerry Harmon (David Marshall Grant) . The people of Stepford pride themselves on being robo-Republicans but they are also happy to be just open-minded enough to publicly acknowledge the long-term relationship (hardly a benign issue with same-sex marriage making headlines around the country). Alas, he too is headed for dire consequences---because he becomes one of the very few Log Cabin Republicans after his own transformation.

Joanna's husband Walter Kresby (Matthew Broderick) appears visibly reluctant in his own right to claim the numerous privileges Stepford confers upon him specifically because of sex. He is obviously charmed by the town, but eventually realizes that he had specifically fallen in love with Joanna because she was an independent person who could NEVER be the "all American homemaker".

Well-placed jabs at infamous rightwing women activists (such as Phyllis Schafly and Beverly Lahaye) abound when the town finally wakes up and realizes who was REALLY responsible for programming all of the women into being airheads. Not all women are victims of subordination because other women made a very public name for themselves ensuring that their gender either remains or returns to inequality. When the plan is explained, this same person becomes instantly transformed from the idealized norm to a desperate and psychotic shell

Yet, if men are really unwitting accomplices in this same caper, this critical scripting update also suggests they can be, should be, and are important partners in women's equality. Women's liberation ultimately makes both genders happy and well-rounded members of society. Conversely, women's restriction also prevents men from enjoying life.

Summary of The Stepford Wives (Special Collector's Edition)