Posted: 05/28/2005

Monster-in-Law

(2005)

by Hank Yuloff

In reading the first reviews of Monster In Law, I got the impression that this was going to be a horrible movie that Jane Fonda, in her first movie in 15 years, made worse by drawing attention to it by her previous absence.

OK, so it wasn’t that bad. And compared to some of the other crap I have seen, it was enjoyable enough for me to give it a marginal positive. In fact, if I hadn’t figured out the formula ending an hour into it, that might have been higher. Credit Wanda Sykes (Pootie Tang, Down to Earth) for a good deal of that, too.

Jennifer Lopez, (don’t give me any of that big ass stuff, the woman is stunning) stars as Charlie, in this movie about a beautiful woman who does not seem to be able to meet the right man. After seeing Jersy Girl, The Wedding Planner, and Maid in Manhattan, it’s so good to see her get the formula right. Michael Vartan (or “Yummy Buns” as the wife calls him) is Kevin Fields, the right man. After a serendipitous meeting, they date, fall in love, move in together, and run off to meet Kevin’s dominant, overbearing, fresh from rehab after being fired from her Oprah like-job on a network, mother. That would be Jane Fonda as Viola Fields.

The Mother in Law to be does not think anyone is good enough for her little boy (Obviously she has not met Jennifer Garner from Vartan’s TV gig on Alias) and begins to plan the demise of Kevin and Charlie’s romance. Luckily for us, Charlie figures this out and with help from her friends Remy (Adam Smith from The Aviator, High Crimes) and Morgan (Annie Parisse from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days) and Sykes (playing Fonda’s assistant) she foils the plot and we move on to the final twists in the story on the day of the wedding. Credit Broadway actress/singer Elaine Stritch (A Farewell to Arms, Autumn in New York) for bringing the film together at the end in a cute little package.

Fonda, who’s last film was Stanley and Iris in 1990, does well, but judging from the interviews I have seen on TV, it seems that this part was not much of a stretch from her real life personality. Maybe when she comes back again in 2020 it will be in a dramatic role. Judging for Hollywood’s current love of remakes, maybe it will be in Klute II and she will pay the hooker’s parole officer with a heart. One side note, if you want a real laugh, check out the photo being used on her IMDB listing…. circa 1980.

This is fine in the theater, but if you wait for it as a rental, you would not be disappointed.

Hank Yuloff is our senior L.A. staffer.

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