“Monster In Law” (New Line Cinema)
Jane Fonda returns to the screen after a fifteen year absence in the comedy “Monster In Law.” Jennifer Lopez, Michael Vartan and Wanda Sykes share the action. This is a light-hearted, fluffy romp that Fonda could do in her sleep but she keeps it fresh and fun.
Fonda plays Viola Fields, a Barbara Walters type TV journalist who is suddenly fired from her prominent TV perch. This sends her into a tailspin of depression. Meanwhile her bachelor son Kevin (Vartan) has found the love of his life in office temp Charlie (Lopez). Once mama meets girlfriend there is no way she is going to let that wedding happen.
Viola doesn’t want to alienate her son so she devises a slew of clever ways to make Charlie look like the “wrong girl.” These acts of maliciousness are the center of the film, but they don’t really kick into high gear until Charlie begins to retaliate.
Fonda is a little older now and it shows in her face and her body, but she still is a force on film. She not only knows how to act comedically, she knows how to react comedically. A lot of people can remember her in “Barefoot In the Park” where she showed her comic timing at an early age.
Lopez looks great in the movie and also shows a comedic spark. Her scenes with Fonda are her best and indicate she rises to the challenge of acting opposite this cinema icon. Michael Vartan barely makes a blip on the entertainment radar but does look the part of the handsome bachelor.
Oddly Wanda Sykes, who is the professional comic in the group, makes the least impression. As Fonda’s assistant she has a deadpan look and a droll one liner for every situation. Still the delivery of these lines sounds forced and false.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and sexual innuendoes.
It is great to have Jane Fonda back on the silver screen after all these years, but it is wished she would have chosen something with more substance to mark her return. “Monster In Law’ is just a “get by” movie which fills your entertainment needs until something of substance comes along. Seeing her and Lopez may offer some lightweight enjoyment but it all fades as soon as the movie ends.
I scored “Monster In Law” a wedded 6 out of 10.
