Monster-in-Law, as the title suggests, chronicles the troubled relationship between a young bride-to-be and her future mother-in-law. The only reason Leann and I were interested in watching this film was because we enjoyed Michael Vartan in Alias.
Unfortunately Michael Vartan's role (Kevin) was relatively undeveloped and he played it like a cardboard cut-out. Jennifer Lopez (Charlotte) seemed to be trying really hard, but none of the emotions she tried to convey were quite realistic. Jane Fonda (Kevin's mother, Fiona) did a fabulous job.[1] Her assistant, though funny at times, had a potty mouth. Her next-door neighbor doesn't really play any role except the token gay friend that all romantic comedies must include these days.
My verdict: The first several minutes of the film, which detail Charlotte's troubled love life and a pointless focus on how here horoscope and Tarot cards helped her find Kevin, didn't help the story at all and should've been cut. The climax, despite presenting a worthwhile moral, falls flat. In the end it just wasn't that great of a film; there's better material out there.
Notes:
[1] Leann thought it was sad, though, that she's aged so much that you can't even tell that she's the same actress from Barefoot in the Park or On Golden Pond.
Unfortunately Michael Vartan's role (Kevin) was relatively undeveloped and he played it like a cardboard cut-out. Jennifer Lopez (Charlotte) seemed to be trying really hard, but none of the emotions she tried to convey were quite realistic. Jane Fonda (Kevin's mother, Fiona) did a fabulous job.[1] Her assistant, though funny at times, had a potty mouth. Her next-door neighbor doesn't really play any role except the token gay friend that all romantic comedies must include these days.
My verdict: The first several minutes of the film, which detail Charlotte's troubled love life and a pointless focus on how here horoscope and Tarot cards helped her find Kevin, didn't help the story at all and should've been cut. The climax, despite presenting a worthwhile moral, falls flat. In the end it just wasn't that great of a film; there's better material out there.
Notes:
[1] Leann thought it was sad, though, that she's aged so much that you can't even tell that she's the same actress from Barefoot in the Park or On Golden Pond.
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