Summer Movie Files 103: The Stepford Wives

I never even heard of the book or original film until the buzz for this version started a few months ago. I must admit Nicole Kidman is one of my favorite actresses, and I am a huge Matthew Broderick fan who hadn't done theatrical film since a supporting role in the underrated You Can Count On Me.

The first two minutes of the film involve a peak into the highly successful professional life of Nicole Kidman who works for a major network. This gives the film a chance to playfully spoof reality television. One of the the tacky reality shows results in an attempt on Kidman's life. The hellstorm that descends on the network for being so irresponsible ends with Kidman in the unemployment line.

The movie soon shifts to the premise when Broderick (her husband) decides to quit his job too and move the family to a quiet New England town. Thankfully the kids aren't a big part in the movie at all. The town is a dream come true for men. They get laid with ease, and spend their day playing battlebots, loafing around together, drinking beer, and whacking golf balls. The women are all there to serve the men, and I kept waiting Jimmy Kimmel to show up in a cameo as the mayor of the Steptford.

Of course this place is an utter nightmare to the modern woman. The thought of dressing up nice only to sit around and sip tea is a concept of hell for today's working class women.

Frank Oz of muppet fame is in the director's chair whose makes the film visually glassy despite the sick and dark premise, similar to What About Bob? one of his more successful non-muppet projects. However, for the most part Oz just serves as the handler of this players placing the talented actors (that include a Christopher Walken, Bette Midler, Glen Glose and Jon Lovitz in he supporting cast)in situations and hope they pull of great performances. One wonders if he dozed off the days some of the Bette Midler scenes where shot, since a few of her intended biggest zingers failed miserably.

Regardless the movie is supposed to be fun and silly and it generally is thanks to the cast. Lovitz is his usual self, Midler's performance will please her fans and Close plays the typical crazy bitch you are used to seeing. It is more in the way that some play of each other and the absurd of a fantasy land where woman are basically robots build to cook and clean.

It is nice to see Kidman has some fun with a role, after a string of darker roles. It was great to see Broderick back who provides some of the dry humor fans of his work are used to. He doesn't over achieve here or take the film overly seriously and hands in a Jimmy Stewart-ish performance.

It may sound as if I am ripping this film but I am not. The old fashion mindset of the role of the sexes actors that cast ability to ham it up. Which is good since we are not clear what Oz's message is if there is one at all. It is a nice breezy film with with a few twists and laughs. Perfect lazy summer afternoon movie when you are not in the mood for anything involving a fat bearded super-liberal or Hillary Duff.

"Another Bites the Dust"

I had a long talk with my old friend Steve tonight. This was the first time we talked since Easter. He just finnished his first entire year as a teacher.

I had some big news for him, new car, new job and the death of the crew. He had some big news for me. He is getting married to his girlfriend of 5 years.

Yep. Old Steve is engaged going to get married sometime next year. So Price is married, Dan will be married soon, Brant just recently got hitched now Steve. Who's next?

"All You Can Eat Cicadas!"

Well for the people that actually have the loud bugs in their backyard they might be able to earn some extra cash by running an all you can eat buffet out of their own home.

Believe it or not people actually cook up Cicadas. Now I know most of my readers mouths are likely drooling after learning the concept of devouring ugly looking bugs. However I should warn you before you all chow down to read THIS article.

And Friends Don't Let Friends Eat too many Cicadas.

"Calling All Cicadas"

S I kept reading all these articles the last few months about "The Summer of the Cicadas." They are these bugs that apparently live underground for 17 years or so only to emerge for a summer to hang out, make lots of noise and get their freak on.

Now the impression I got from all the hype was that I would be stepping over large piles walking to my car everynight and I would be driven mad by the deafening sound of their mating call.

AOL has icons for the cicadas and David Letterman even did a top ten about the lovable bugs last week. All hyped up!

Now am I the only one who hasn't seen one damn Cicada yet in the summer of cicadas? Okay sure summer doesn't officially start till noon today(Monday), but they say once the ground hits 65 degrees they should start crawling out and having their party. I fairly sure it is warm enough for them to imerge.

Well its warm enough and where are the damn bugs? I don't see them, hear them, or no anyone really that has seen them. I did a google search and found some charts that don't have them here till 2013, apparently they were here in the mid-90s.

I also got to see some really good pictures of the, and I know that I have seen them in my back yard before. They climb out of their old body and fly away. I have seen their exo-skeleton attached to my screen in porch.

I guess the difference this year is there is supposed to be tons more and they mate so it gets really loud at night. Supposedly they sound like a UFO when they all start their matting call at once. Whatever that means.

I know I likely have some of my facts wrong here. Has anyone seen these creatures? Is it going to be even more noticeable this summer or is it just typical media over-hype?

Is sitting outside this summer in a lawn chair wearing a summer of the cicadas shirt a waste of my time? Is it too late to cancel the order and get my money back before the shirt ships? Does anyone want to have a cicada party this summer?

All Grown Up

So this past Saturday Ryan, Chris Arter and his girlfriend and myself went to Polly's in Voorhees.

That doesn't sound like a real exciting day, but guess who drove. Yep. Thats right Chris. Chris got his permit this summer, and Ryan was nice enough to let him use his car as learning tool.

Chris did a fairly good job aside from having to ask where the gas pedal was and "bumping" a curb upon leaving the parking space Christ did pretty good.

I am so proud of Chris he is really growing up. He followed and obeyed every traffic law in the ride from Somerdale to Voorhees.

When we pulled up his mom and dad were pulling out, and we had to play it off like Chris wasn't driving. I hope he wasn't grounded or anything.