The Toledo Blade
May 13, 2005
Movie review: Monster-in-law ***
Celebrity smackdown: Fonda and Lopez are delightful as they carry a lightweight comedy
By Nanciann Cherry, Blade Staff Writer
SPOILERS!
Thanks to Spygirl, Vartan Ho #5, for the scans!
Guilty pleasure. No more, no less.
Monster-in-Law induces everything from chuckles to belly laughs as war breaks out between characters played by Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez.
While it is neither high art nor likely to delight anyone dealing with sour family relationships, the movie works just fine as simple, mindless entertainment, the type that's found in films from Animal House to Old School.
It helps that director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde) maintains a near breakneck pace as the slapstick escalates, which serves to keep his audiences from thinking too much about the almost nonexistent plot and the holes in the logic.
Two other things also help tremendously. First, once deciding on her course of action, screenwriter Anya Kochoff is fearless. Kochoff is never afraid to let the actors poke fun at their real images, and she skillfully connects with all those law-abiding people who do no more than daydream of delicious revenge to get back at mean bosses, bad drivers, or surly neighbors.
Second, comedian Wanda Sykes is never far away to provide some sass when this thin-as-air comedy comes perilously close to collapsing, as it occasionally does.
Fonda plays Viola Fields, a Barbara Walters clone who has a nervous breakdown after she is fired from her high-profile television job. Nervous breakdowns aren't inherently funny, but this one is: She loses it during a final interview with a Britney Spears wannabe, setting up a personal favorite moment.
After a period of recovery at a mental health spa, Viola is released and filled with plans to get closer to her beloved son, Kevin, a surgeon.
But while Mom's been away, Kevin has met and fallen in love with Charlie (Lopez), who works at a variety of jobs (dog walker, catering assistant) while she dreams of becoming a fashion designer.
(In an ironic twist, Michael Vartan, who plays Kevin, has the eye-candy role. His sweet and sensitive character exists only to provide a reason for the plot.)
Viola is appalled, and she decides to sabotage the relationship. Her personal assistant, Ruby (Sykes), is less than thrilled with the idea.
At first Viola's machinations are relatively mild. She throws an engagement party for Charlie and Kevin. They show up in casual clothes, believing it to be a barbecue, and discover all sorts of movers and shakers have been invited, most of whom Charlie has never heard of. When Charlie protests she isn't dressed right, Viola says she bought a gown, just for Charlie. Of course, it's beautiful. It's also too small.
When that doesn't work, Viola proceeds to take over the wedding plans. She moves into Charlie and Kevin's house and keeps Charlie awake all night with fake hysteria. (Kevin, conveniently, had to go to a medical conference.)
Charlie finally figures out what Viola's up to and decides to give as good as she gets.
This being a romantic comedy, it's fairly obvious that things will come out all right, and the scene at the very end, where the two come to terms, is sappy.
But that's not the point of Monster-in-Law. The point, if there is one, is to watch Fonda and Lopez, two icons of celebrity, in an ever-escalating game of one-upmanship. The fact that they do it with gusto and glee is a delight.
Contact Nanciann Cherry at: ncherry@theblade.com or 419-724-6130.
Monster-in-Law
Directed by Robert Luketic.
Written by Anya Kochoff.
A New Line Cinema release, opening today at Cinema De Lux Franklin Park, Cinema De Lux Maumee, Fox Woodville, and Showcase Levis Commons, and rated PG-13 for sex references and language.
Running time: 115 minutes.
Critic's rating: ***
Viola Fields - Jane Fonda
Charlie Cantilini - Jennifer Lopez
Kevin Fields - Michael Vartan
Ruby - Wanda Sykes
© The Blade 2005
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