Today’s quick review: Monster-in-Law. Charlie (Jennifer Lopez) finds the man of her dreams when she meets Kevin (Michael Vartan), a handsome doctor with a great personality. The two fall deeply in love, and after a few months of dating, Kevin asks Charlie to marry him. There’s only one catch: Kevin’s domineering mother Viola (Jane Fonda), who sets out to make Charlie’s life as miserable as possible in hopes of getting her to call off the wedding.
Monster-in-Law is a romantic comedy about the rivalry between a bride-to-be and her future mother-in-law. Viola does everything in her power to torment Charlie, from flaunting her wealth and successful career to sabotaging the wedding plans. What follows is a social battle of wits as Charlie tries to fend off Viola’s attacks while keeping her relationship with Kevin intact. Monster-in-Law makes for an entertaining but insubstantial comedy.
Monster-in-Law’s greatest asset is its cast. Jennifer Lopez strikes the right balance between sweet and cunning as Charlie, a genuinely nice person who still has the spine to stand up to Viola. Jane Fonda is a natural fit for Viola, capturing her ruthlessness and affinity for low-grade villainy. But the film’s unsung hero is Wanda Sykes, who plays Viola’s long-suffering assistant Ruby. Her sarcastic quips are the best-delivered lines in the film.
Still, Monster-in-Law doesn’t pack any real surprises. The story covers just enough ground to set up the conflict between Charlie and Viola, play it out, and wrap everything up nicely. There are no subplots of note, the stakes never rise above the level of social skirmishing, and even Charlie and Kevin’s relationship takes a back seat to Viola’s scheming. None of this detracts from the comedy, but it does make Monster-in-Law a shallow watch.
Monster-in-Law will appeal to fans of romantic comedy who are in the mood for something more on the comedy side. Monster-in-Law makes no pretense of being a deep movie, and anyone looking to be impressed will be disappointed. But those who are looking for a light popcorn watch with a decent cast and an entertaining setup should look no farther. Skip it if you’re looking for more fulfilling romance or comedy with more bite.
For a comedy about the relationship between a young woman and her insufferable mentor, try The Devil Wears Prada. For a romantic comedy about a high-class wedding, try The Philadelphia Story or High Society.
5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for simple, cleanly executed comedy but not much more.