Monster-in-Law (2005)
She met the perfect man. Then she met his mother.
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan, Wanda Sykes, Adam Scott, Annie Parisse, Monet Mazur, Will Arnett, John Aylward, Lorenzo Caccialanza, Stephen Dunham, Monica Guiza, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Gianfranco Tordi L'Amore, Amber Mead, Madison Poer, Marissa Poer, Kellee Stewart, Elaine Stritch, Stephanie Turner, Olivia Usey, Jenny Wade, Tyson Weihe
Director: Robert Luketic
US MPAA rating: PG-13UK BBFC rating: 12a
Comedy, Romance
Mother-in-law jokes! Will the comedy world never tire of them? From "I'm not saying my mother-in-law's ugly, but she uses her bottom lip as a shower cap" to "I haven't spoken to my mother-in-law for 18 months - I don't like to interrupt her", it's the universal brand of gag that many a stand-up has fallen back on at one point or another. But can turning that one lone variety of joke into an entire movie really be a good idea? One thing's for sure: if 'Monster-In-Law' had been made just a few years earlier, I'd have been swearing it was secretly written by Bob Monkhouse.
The "monster" in question here is Viola Fields, a fallen chat show queen played by Jane Fonda, making her first big screen appearance since 'Stanley & Iris' way back in 1990. Much to her never-quite-explained chagrin, she's soon to become mum-in-law to Charlotte (Jennifer Lopez), a sweet, unassuming dog-walker girl who's fallen head-over-booty in love with son Kevin (forgettable rent-a-hunk Michael Vartan). So, with the clock counting down to the big wedding day, Viola decides to do all in her power to drive Chazza round-the-bend - or, in fact, anywhere that's not in the direction of her charmless pride and joy.
Directed by
It's Got: A predictably soppy end-of-film speech.
It Needs: To carry on just that little bit further down the slapstick route - it's certainly funnier than any of the largely witless dialogue.
Alternatives: Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers
Summary: It's not as bad as you might expect, but it's just not monstrous enough.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 17th May 2005
Image Gallery
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External Links
Official Web Site
Monster-in-Law at the IMDB
