brijesh
17-08-05, 01:56 PM
Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez scratch at one another and both seem happy to show their sillier sides in this weekend’s “Monster-in-Law,” an over-the-top send-up of frosty mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relations.
Jennifer Lopez returns to the big screen this week’s the romantic comedy, directed by Robert Luketic and co-starring Jane Fonda and Michael Vartan.
Lopez plays Charlie Cantilini, a woman who, after years of dating disasters, finally manages to land Mr. Right (Vartan). Problem is, Mr. Right’s mother Viola (Fonda) isn’t too fond of J. Lo, and she’ll stop at nothing to keep her from marrying him.
Viola moves in with Charlie and does her best to drive Charlie crazy. Charlie finds out Viola’s been lying about her illness and retaliates. Viola spikes Charlie’s food with walnuts, which she is deathly allergic to, culminating in a fistfight between bride- and mother-in-law-to-be during the wedding.
Much comedy ensues as an increasingly obsessive mom executes a series of crazy schemes in an attempt to break up the happy couple.
Jennifer love for romantic comedy attracted her to this role, “I love romantic comedies – and I’ve said this a million times – if I have my choice, I’d rather watch a romantic comedy at home than, you know, the great new drama that’s out. I know it’s silly. I’m a girl. I’m very girly that way and so I like making them as well.”
Fonda returns to the big screen this week with this movie after a 15 year of retirement. She says she has three reasons to come back “I realized that I am really different than I was 15 years ago, when I left the business. And I had no intention of coming back. I thought, “Gosh, I wonder if that would make the process joyful again?” Then this character came along, and I’ve never played anybody like her, and I thought, “Wow that would be fun. And I’m ready for laughter.” And then three – half of my salary went to support the work I do. So it was a way to endow the work in Georgia.”
Fonda is terrific playing the mess that is Viola - a woman who plays at having everything together, but is coming apart at the seams on the inside. She is alternately rude, crazy, pathetic, mean, and likeable. Her introduction tells you everything you need to know about her when, just after learning she has been fired, she attacks a vacuous Britney Spears clone on air.
Jennifer Lopez plays Charlie with a very sweet sort of loneliness that’s a hallmark of most of the female heroes of romantic comedies. Charlie the character is more indecisive about her life, doesn’t want to commit to anything. She’s too nice for the films own good. At one point it seems as if she is going to sink to Viola’s level and the two are going to go at it hammer and tongs to decide who will be the number one woman in Kevin’s life. As quickly as Charlie gets mean, she gets nice again.
The other person worth watching is Ruby (Wanda Sykes), Viola’s sarcastic assistant-cum-confidant who follows her and helps her with her schemes, even though she knows they’re bad ideas. Sykes’ dry, under-the-top performance deliver up the best lines in the film, and she and Fonda have excellent chemistry together.
Michael Vartan does solid work as Kevin, he’s funny and charming in just the right amounts for a romantic comedy, but he essentially disappears after the proposal. His only real importance to the story is that he is Viola’s son - once she appears, the story becomes entirely about her and Charlie.
“Monster-in-Law” has some hilarious moments and will surely please its target audience. It’s a fairly good date movie, and with June just around the corner – the year’s favorite month for weddings – it might also be a great night out for soon-to-be brides and their future mothers-in-law. Moreover, it’s nice to have Fonda back.
Monster-in-Law is rated PG-13 for sex references and language.
Jennifer Lopez returns to the big screen this week’s the romantic comedy, directed by Robert Luketic and co-starring Jane Fonda and Michael Vartan.
Lopez plays Charlie Cantilini, a woman who, after years of dating disasters, finally manages to land Mr. Right (Vartan). Problem is, Mr. Right’s mother Viola (Fonda) isn’t too fond of J. Lo, and she’ll stop at nothing to keep her from marrying him.
Viola moves in with Charlie and does her best to drive Charlie crazy. Charlie finds out Viola’s been lying about her illness and retaliates. Viola spikes Charlie’s food with walnuts, which she is deathly allergic to, culminating in a fistfight between bride- and mother-in-law-to-be during the wedding.
Much comedy ensues as an increasingly obsessive mom executes a series of crazy schemes in an attempt to break up the happy couple.
Jennifer love for romantic comedy attracted her to this role, “I love romantic comedies – and I’ve said this a million times – if I have my choice, I’d rather watch a romantic comedy at home than, you know, the great new drama that’s out. I know it’s silly. I’m a girl. I’m very girly that way and so I like making them as well.”
Fonda returns to the big screen this week with this movie after a 15 year of retirement. She says she has three reasons to come back “I realized that I am really different than I was 15 years ago, when I left the business. And I had no intention of coming back. I thought, “Gosh, I wonder if that would make the process joyful again?” Then this character came along, and I’ve never played anybody like her, and I thought, “Wow that would be fun. And I’m ready for laughter.” And then three – half of my salary went to support the work I do. So it was a way to endow the work in Georgia.”
Fonda is terrific playing the mess that is Viola - a woman who plays at having everything together, but is coming apart at the seams on the inside. She is alternately rude, crazy, pathetic, mean, and likeable. Her introduction tells you everything you need to know about her when, just after learning she has been fired, she attacks a vacuous Britney Spears clone on air.
Jennifer Lopez plays Charlie with a very sweet sort of loneliness that’s a hallmark of most of the female heroes of romantic comedies. Charlie the character is more indecisive about her life, doesn’t want to commit to anything. She’s too nice for the films own good. At one point it seems as if she is going to sink to Viola’s level and the two are going to go at it hammer and tongs to decide who will be the number one woman in Kevin’s life. As quickly as Charlie gets mean, she gets nice again.
The other person worth watching is Ruby (Wanda Sykes), Viola’s sarcastic assistant-cum-confidant who follows her and helps her with her schemes, even though she knows they’re bad ideas. Sykes’ dry, under-the-top performance deliver up the best lines in the film, and she and Fonda have excellent chemistry together.
Michael Vartan does solid work as Kevin, he’s funny and charming in just the right amounts for a romantic comedy, but he essentially disappears after the proposal. His only real importance to the story is that he is Viola’s son - once she appears, the story becomes entirely about her and Charlie.
“Monster-in-Law” has some hilarious moments and will surely please its target audience. It’s a fairly good date movie, and with June just around the corner – the year’s favorite month for weddings – it might also be a great night out for soon-to-be brides and their future mothers-in-law. Moreover, it’s nice to have Fonda back.
Monster-in-Law is rated PG-13 for sex references and language.