Stepford? Step Yes!

I remember seeing parts of the original The Stepford Wives on television years ago. I recall it had a creepy tone, with the lead character discovering the secret and being “converted” into a robotic housewife in the end. It was billed as a sci-fi mystery thriller during its time (1975).

The new movie starring Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler and Glen Close is more of a gay comedy romp rather than a cautionary tale, and rightly so since the gender issue of having “perfect” mates is so Jurassic. Screenwriter Paul Rudnick (Addams Family Values, Jeffrey) ups the already considerable pink quotient by adding a gay couple into the story.



The movie explores gender issues and perfection among partners while making bitchy stabs at fashion, reality shows, Manhattan bitches in black, rural Americana, politics, modern technology, Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen. And while the witticisms and pop culture references fly fast and furious, in the end the movie is all fluffy and light, like the cupcakes Nicole’s character bakes in the movie.

If you want to just leave your brain at the door and have a gay time, then this movie fits the bill.