The Stepford Wives (2004)

The world of big budget black comedy 70s throwback kitsch hit its nadir with the Frank Oz-directed remake of The Stepford Wives (2004). In what was supposed to be a meta-commentary on the original book and made-for-television adaptation, this version took aim at reality television, 50s housewife stereotypes, and patriarchal society in general, but really fails to land any substantive blows against these targets. Nicole Kidman stars as network television executive Joanna, who suffers a major career meltdown when a publicity stunt at up-fronts goes horribly wrong. Looking to escape their career-centric world, she and her husband Walter (Matthew Broderick) move to the affluent suburb of Stepford, CT where they are hoping to start over. While the town seems idyllic to most folks—especially men—Joanna becomes fast friends with two New York transplants—played by Bette Midler and Roger Bart—who seem to be onto the strange behavior of everyone in town, especially town founder Mike (Christopher Walken) and his Mamie Eisenhower-looking wife Claire (Glenn Close). If you know the set-up of the novel or the original film adaptation, you know that there is obviously a big twist involved, but this version actually crafted a completely different twist that—spoiler alert—doesn't really make a lick of sense. The film was obviously hacked to pieces in the edit and whatever strong hints of social commentary that may have been present in the script didn't make it to the screen. At least there's a sexy scene where country superstar Faith Hill, playing one of the titular spouses, suddenly gets a bust increase in a purple negligee, though it's very obviously early aughts cgi.