"Monster-in-Law" DVD review
By Souris
Packaging
The front cover is basically the movie poster with Jane ripping the photo of Michael and Jennifer. There's a cardboard oversleeve with quotes from various critics and a cut-out window showing part of the back of the DVD. There are two DVDs. The first DVD has Jane Fonda's picture. The second DVD has Jennifer Lopez's picture.
Special features
Disc One:
Commentary by Wanda Sykes, director Robert Luketic, producer Chris Bender, production designer Missy Stewart and director of photography P. Russell Carpenter
Sneak Previews of other movies
Soundtrack information
DVD-Rom/Online Features (unavailable on Macs, grrrr)
Disc Two:
Deleted Scenes (7)
Gag Reel (5:02 minutes)
Ruby's Make-up Bag (Wanda Sykes music video satire)
"Welcome Back Jane Fonda" Featurette (8:20 minutes)
"Keeping it Real with Jennifer" Featurette (6:06 minutes)
"Robert Luketic: The Man Behind the Monster" Featurette (17:58 minutes)
"Vartan, the Man!" Featurette (5:45 minutes)
Lifestyles Featurette (4:33 minutes)
Fashion Featurette (6:04 minutes)
Details
Deleted scenes:
"Confessional": Viola in a sanitarium
"Viola and Ruby Shoot Charlie": Charlie has a bad daydream
"Charlie Shows Ring": Charlie shows off her ring to her friends
"Charlie's Dress Impresses": Charlie improvises a dress for Viola's party
"Kitchen Remodeling": Viola gives a noisy gift
"Charlie and Ruby": Charlie asks Ruby for advice
"Viola and Charlie Right": Before the wedding
Commentary:
There is very little mention of Michael in the commentary, so it's not particularly interesting in that regard. Much of the focus is on Jane and Jennifer and various filmmaking concerns. The different commentators besides Robert Luketic come in and out. Luketic is very complimentary of Michael in the scene in the restaurant when Viola and Charlie both start crying and he's stuck in the middle (at about the 1:10 mark).
Gag Reel:
It's a pretty fun gag reel, though I always prefer the longer bloopers where they let the camera run instead of the rapid quick-cuts that most, including this one, favor. There's a fair amount of Michael -- and a lot less Wanda Sykes than I expected.
Featurettes:
The "Vartan, the Man!" featurette is cute and enjoyable and made me giggle in spots, but it doesn't provide much information about Michael beyond the fact that he loves poker and the Mets and making faces at the camera, and he won a bunch of money off the crew playing poker. There are several Millie sightings (and I noticed what kind of dog food she eats). Pay attention to the TV in Michael's trailer -- apparently the DVD-makers didn't get the expressed written consent of Major League Baseball. I think we find out what the (annoying in excess) on-set catch-phrase was, thanks to one burly crew member.
It seems odd and self-indulgent that by far the longest featurette is about the director. He reminded me a lot at times of Carson Kressley from "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," only with even more tragic hair. Actually, his hair is made a point of, because he seems to change it often. But, really, I didn't find him and his scooter interesting enough for an almost 20-minute featurette. Of course, I wanted more time on Michael's featurette!
There are clips with Michael in all the featurettes, either from interviews or on-set footage. Will Arnett and Adam Scott have much bigger roles in the special features than they do in the movie.
Back To Monster-in-Law Expositions