2005
Directed by
Robert Luketic
Written by
Anya Kochoff
Richard LaGravenese
CastJennifer Lopez .... Charlotte 'Charlie' Cantilini
Jane Fonda .... Viola Fields
Michael Vartan .... Dr. Kevin Fields
Wanda Sykes .... Ruby
Monster-in-Law is a movie that tries to bring humour and insight into a topic that is the cause of much anguish and agony during ones adult life: the in-laws. Monster-in-Law tries hard to breathe fresh air into an age-old topic; it tries, but then ultimately it fails, not least of all because some schmuck chose to cast J.Lo as the lead actress.
The thing about in-laws is that the one person in this world who will hate you most will also have given birth to the love of your life. The other thing is that your son’s wife will almost always be the town tart. Life just works out that way. Think about it folks. A relationship based on one party screwing the offspring of the other will always be slightly tenuous. That said, imagine how you would feel if J.Lo shacked up with your son (or daughter). Three women out there don’t have to imagine it; they were lucky enough to have lived it!
In Monster-in-Law, J.Lo plays Charlie, a flighty temp/dog-walker/wannabe artist who, despite being in her late 20s/early 30s, is still thick enough to be dreaming about meeting her perfect man. Anyway, J.Lo sure knows a good score when she sees one, so before long she has hooked her claws in Dr. Kevin Fields (Michael Vartan). Enter Jane Fonda as Viola Fields, the drug-popping stress-bunny mother who, after the sun has been forcibly set on her own career, finally has all the time and energy to devote to her only son. Only now she must share him with the Lo!
Therein lies the heart of the movie: Jane Fonda and J.Lo taking cheap shots at each other. Jane Fonda presents J.Lo with a ballgown that is too tight to fit over her ass, J.Lo drugs Jane Fonda, Jane Fonda feeds J.Lo peanuts which cause her lips to swell to the size of Liz Hurley’s, J.Lo...er...rifles through Jane Fonda’s underwear. Real heavy hitting stuff.
Why did Jane Fonda choose this movie with which to make her come-back? Did she really have to wait 15 years to do it? Why did I want to throw a brick at J.Lo each time she spoke? And why wouldn’t the middle-aged women sitting next to me stop cackling?? So many questions, so little time.
This movie is worth seeing if you like Jane Fonda because she delivers a pretty good performance as a derailed, slightly over the top, psychotic mother-in-law. Also, you might enjoy this movie if you like weddings. The second half of the movie revolves around the "will they or won’t they get married" question. Let me tell you now, the tension is truly palpable. Incidentally, this will be the fifth wedding dress that the public would have seen the ex-Mrs Judd appear in. Ms Lopez appeared in a wedding dress in The Wedding Planner and Jersey Girl, as well as in three of her own weddings!
Monster-in-Law is a somewhat vapid movie that unfortunately tries to be something that it is not (i.e. not vapid). But that’s okay because sometimes even vapid can be enjoyable if you’re in the mood for it.
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