Monster-In-Law (2005) DVD Reviews

Starring	Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan, Wanda Sykes
Director	Robert Luketic
Genres	Comedy

Critics' reviews (2) of Monster-In-Law
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"This will end badly" says the assistant to the screaming neurotic ex-tv personality played by Jane Fonda in full harridan mode in her first screen role in fifteen years. She doesn't know the half of it: it also begins badly and the middle is no better.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Given Jennifer Lopezs recent record, youd think Jane Fonda might have postponed the comeback rather than risk a... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Monster-In-Law
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55 out of 62 people found this review helpful

I'm very surprised

I have to admit it, I put my hands in the air and admit that I walked into the cinema expecting the very worst from this film (come on, it is J-Lo after all) but I sat down and the film begin and I think I laughed pretty much from start to finish. Now, just before you think I may have been having a weak moment or something (I wasn't sure myself) I had a look around me and everyone else was in hysterics. Lots of Laugh out loud moments. J-Lo and J-Fo have superb chemistry on screen they work well together and their comedic timing is fantastic. Michael Vartan looks a little lost as the 2 leading ladies steal the show. I was in the mood for a good laugh upon entering the cinema and I have to admit that this certainly pushed all the right buttons. I highly recommend this!
- - A customer from London, UK
  - Posted 23 May 2005 13:20
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful

surprised

I wasn't keen on watching this as I am not a J-Lo fan, but I was really surprised. This movie was a good laugh and I think we all see Jane Fonda as our monster-in-laws at times. A good laugh with a decent story line.
- - Annie32 from East Yorkshire
  - Posted 16 Dec 2005 11:56
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful

It's light hearted

I reccomend it if you're a fan of Jennifer Lopez or the other actors, since this is a good movie. But not the best I've seen from Jen.

It's light hearted and gives you giggles, but thats it. Although the story line is believable and not too far fetched, also a plus. Watchable for anyone.
- - filmwatcher123 from Gloucestershire
  - Posted 06 Sep 2005 20:15
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Monster-In-Law
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

TOP MOVIE !!!

Jane Fonda's duplicitous character in 'Monster-in-Law' mirrors a comedy so desperate to avoid any possible offense that it flees in panic from every issue it brings up but refuses to address. Her screen alter ego, Viola Fields, is a Los Angeles television interviewer of Barbara Walters stature, who goes bonkers and lands in rehab after she is unceremoniously put out to pasture by her youth-obsessed network bosses. Foremost on Viola's list of obsessions is her determination to derail the marriage-bound relationship of her beloved only son, Kevin (Michael Vartan), a handsome surgeon, to Charlotte, a k a Charlie (Jennifer Lopez), a spunky office temp and part-time caterer and dog walker whom Viola considers unworthy of her darling boy. Winking broadly every step of the way, Ms. Fonda infuses her disagreeable character with a zany, good-natured verve that makes Viola palatable even when she is behaving atrociously, which is much of the time. Although the star carries off this balancing act, you have to wonder why Ms. Fonda decided to choose for her return to the screen a comedy so one-dimensional and craven that it makes 'Meet the Parents' look avant-garde.
- - A customer from GLASGOW
  - Posted 04 Mar 2006 13:43
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

very good

well worth watching, makes a good evenings viewing.
- - A customer from east yorkshire, england
  - Posted 13 Feb 2006 15:15

55 out of 62 people found this review helpful

I'm very surprised

I have to admit it, I put my hands in the air and admit that I walked into the cinema expecting the very worst from this film (come on, it is J-Lo after all) but I sat down and the film begin and I think I laughed pretty much from start to finish. Now, just before you think I may have been having a weak moment or something (I wasn't sure myself) I had a look around me and everyone else was in hysterics. Lots of Laugh out loud moments. J-Lo and J-Fo have superb chemistry on screen they work well together and their comedic timing is fantastic. Michael Vartan looks a little lost as the 2 leading ladies steal the show. I was in the mood for a good laugh upon entering the cinema and I have to admit that this certainly pushed all the right buttons. I highly recommend this!
- - A customer from London, UK
  - Posted 23 May 2005 13:20
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful

surprised

I wasn't keen on watching this as I am not a J-Lo fan, but I was really surprised. This movie was a good laugh and I think we all see Jane Fonda as our monster-in-laws at times. A good laugh with a decent story line.
- - Annie32 from East Yorkshire
  - Posted 16 Dec 2005 11:56
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful

It's light hearted

I reccomend it if you're a fan of Jennifer Lopez or the other actors, since this is a good movie. But not the best I've seen from Jen.

It's light hearted and gives you giggles, but thats it. Although the story line is believable and not too far fetched, also a plus. Watchable for anyone.
- - filmwatcher123 from Gloucestershire
  - Posted 06 Sep 2005 20:15
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful

Excellent laugh! Fonda is great.

Jane Fonda was excellent in this movie as the bitchy jealous mother-in-law. J-Lo is Fonda's future daughter-in-law and also gives a good performance. This movie was a lot better than I expected, mostly due to the presence of Jane Fonda who had me laughing the whole way through! Bit slow in starting but when it get going, this movie is superb entertainment. Not to be missed.
- - Debs from Scotland
  - Posted 20 Sep 2005 17:47
8 out of 11 people found this review helpful

Excellent

When I saw this film at the cinema with a friend of mine, it exceeded all my expectations. You really have to pinch yourself when you come out and then it finally settles in...J-LO HAS ACTUALLY DONE A GOOD FILM. However her performance is overshadowed by veteran actress Jane Fonda who is excellent as the possesive mother. Really funny definately up there with 'There's Something About Mary' as one of the funniest films ever. 5 out of 5.
- - Smoothy from Essex
  - Posted 03 Aug 2005 10:13
10 out of 18 people found this review helpful

F**KING EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

MICHELLE KENNA, Your review was pathetic, you are probably one of those sad wingers who has no sense of humour what so ever!

This film is totally hillarious from start to end, a 10/10 forclassic comedy and great acting!!!!

RENT THIS FILM.BLOODY FANTASTIC
- - JAMIE LEE JONES from LONDON
  - Posted 17 Oct 2005 13:15
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

OH COME ON!!

I nearly gave this film 5 stars just to try to compensate for the surprisingly LOW average rating of 2.5 stars! IT DOESN'T DESERVE THAT!! However, I can't help but be honest and I don't want to appear to be a stereotypical chick-flick-loving female reviewer because I'm the total opposite! When this film originally came out, my discerning and somewhat contemptuous mind wouldn't give it the time of day as it apeared to be so blatently, the result of some movie executive thinking it would be a good idea to cash-in on all the hype and success of 'Meet the Fockers'. The whole thing with its 'hilarious' trailers and superstar lead characters just seemed completely calculated and contrived and like it would be one of those boring unimaginatively-scripted, style-over-substance type of films (especially as J-Lo seems to be so good at picking a turkey to star in). Then, one weekend or holiday or something, there was nothing on telly so we decided to order a Sky-on-demand movie to watch that would be suitable for all the family - so it was Monster-in-Law. I sat down to watch, preparing to be bored out of my brain and weakly feign interest and amusement...and you can guess the rest! The film's well-acted, there are funny characters and found myself genuinely chuckling and enjoying the ride. Yes, of course, the film is going to be predictable to an extent, it IS a rom-com after all and you can tell what's going to happen in the end solely by the premise of the movie. What did these negative reviewers expect? An intricately-weaved, super-intelligent, twisty-turny thriller? It's a comedy for God's sake!! I'm doing this review based on memory and I remember being very pleasantly surprised as the script wasn't as run-of-the-mill as I thought it'd be and there weren't the obvious cliched, cheap, farcical scenes that I expected. I'm not one for a rom-com AT ALL and I'm not easily pleased (I have been called critical by some) but I believe that I'm fair and I give credit where it's due - I'm not sure that can be said for the negative reviewers of this movie! I wouldn't strictly speaking call this a rom-com though, by the way - it is in the same vein as Meet the Parents (I haven't actually seen ...Fockers) but with a different angle. Basically, I'd watch it again and that isn't something I usually do. I think it's hard for a well-observed, genuinely funny comedy to get credit because people don't generally appreciate how difficult it is to make people laugh, especially though the medium of film. Even comedy films that are generally accepted as good (and there aren't many) don't get the huge acclaim and accolades that films from other genres do. Maybe it's because what people think is funny is soooo enormously subjective.
- - Agi McDonald from London, England
  - Posted 14 Apr 2007 12:26
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Not as great as I thought

Although this film had some pretty funny parts, altogether it was a bit slow. After seeing the previews for it I thought it was going to be hilarious.

I am glad I watched it though.
- - swissbabes from CARMS
  - Posted 05 Oct 2005 12:18
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent!

Found this to be very entertaining & some funny parts in it also! Fonda gives a powerhouse comic performance..

Well worth renting! :)
- - car from glos
  - Posted 12 Oct 2005 23:29
5 out of 9 people found this review helpful

Rubbish

Wasted a Saturday staying in to watch this drivel. didn`t laugh once.
- - A customer from Exeter
  - Posted 18 Jan 2006 19:06

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Critics' reviews (2)
"This will end badly" says the assistant to the screaming neurotic ex-tv personality played by Jane Fonda in full harridan mode in her first screen role in fifteen years. She doesn't know the half of it: it also begins badly and the middle is no better.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Given Jennifer Lopezs recent record, youd think Jane Fonda might have postponed the comeback rather than risk a... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008