The She Met His Mother (Monster-In-Law (DVD))

Member Name: JayHall1991

Product:	Monster-In-Law (DVD)
Date:	28/02/06 (103 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Occassionally Funny, Good Performances

Disadvantages: Mean Spirited, Over The Top

Charlie Cantilini is a flighty hard working girl who has strong morals and is extraordinarily well liked in her community, she works as a dog walker, a doctors receptionist and a fashion designer (and miraculously is amazing at all of them) finally she has acquired a nice apartment and two close friends but there is one thing missing in her life: A Man. Kevin is the perfect catch, he is sweet, handsome, interesting and a respected doctor, after a few mishaps they finally fall in love and he eventually proposes, true love has conquered all, or has it?

Viola is one of the most successful journalists of her time rising up from a weather girl to a ground breaking interviewee she has gained respect from all corners of the media world and her hit day time show has just celebrated its tenth year on air, life couldn't get better, but when she is called into her boss's office and told that they want to swap her for a new younger presenter she spirals head first into a mental breakdown and has to spend the next few months in therapy getting over her ordeal. When Viola discovers her sons proposal to Charlie she goes mad and a battle of wits ensues with outrageous consequences.

Monster In Law is a very odd film, it never really knows what it wants to be, which makes the audience confused and at times slightly uncomfortable as you never really know what emotions you should be feeling. The pacing is fairly horrendous which is the main contributor to the film not being an overly successful one, the big comedy pieces go over too fast and don't really make an impression on the audience and the slushy overly melodramatic finale doesn't sum the film up very well and instantly loses any sparkle that the flick gathers.

Jennifer Lopez actually hold her own in Monster In Law even though her character is flat and one big cliché. Charlie's transformation from sweet natured California girl to raving loony out for revenge is wholly unconvincing and deeply dispiriting making the movie lose focus as there isn't one clear good guy. Never the less though Lopez does look stunning in the film and she is charming making her portrayal fairly believable, sadly she never really gains any chemistry with Michael Vartan or Jane Fonda but at least she holds her own.

Jane Fonda puts in one of the most energetic, fun, outrageous and over the top performances of the last decade, which makes Monster In Law a better film than it has any right to be, she gets the constant hysteria just right and always keeps the sparkle of evil into her performance never losing track of what her characters aim in the film is. From the very beginning she is the one who lights up the screen with her mad cap antics and good comic timing. Sadly her character isn't allowed to be as deliciously evil all the way through the film, but for the most part it is an excellent performance.

Michael Vartan is an actor I have been watching for quite a bit, Alias is without doubt (in my mind) the best television show running on television at the moment and he has handled the twists and turns (especially at the end of the third season) with utmost professionalism and a breezy confidence, in the show he always strikes an emotional chored with the viewers and bounces off Jennifer Garner well. Sadly he isn't really given much to do in monster In Law other than pout a bit. It is annoying as he is obviously capable of much more, but he doesn't seem to be able to make the central relationship work as he has little chemistry with Lopez and doesn't seem all that committed to his role.

The best character is without doubt Ruby Viola's loyal but spunky assistant and she is played beautifully by the amazing Wanda Sykes who shows off some amazing comic ability in this little flick. She has chemistry with all of the cast and makes the audience believe in her tight relationship with the loud Viola. Having the best lines in the film she never fails to make the audience laugh with her confident style of comedy. In stark contrast Adam Scott is saddled with the worst character ever invented in movie history Remy Charlie's best friend is an overdone cliché who never has anything funny to say.

Another massive problem with Monster In Law is that it isn't actually very funny, I found myself laughing for the sake of it. The not very well structured slapstick scenes are more annoying than funny as they are just so obvious and most of the chuckle worthy sequences have already been used in the trailers leaving not that much left for the movie to keep going. You will get a few chuckles but you will not be all that amused either.

I found the script by Anya Kochoff more upsetting than funny and deeply confused floundering without a real plot to latch onto. Nearly all the characters are underdeveloped in turn making them not all that likeable and not that interesting and the end is just unforgivable because of its unoriginality, over the top sentimentality and ridiculous moral message. The whole film just raps up too neatly and the streak of vicious comedy (the screenplays one saving grace) eventually peters out into saccharine sweetness.

If there is one person who can make a fun comedy it is Robert Luketic who held together the surprisingly good Legally Blonde and to be fair he does give the film a little bit more focus than the script first allows. By transporting most of the film into California he adds a more fun and fresh aspect to the whole film, but in the end he never really lifts the film any higher than is expected and doesn't make any attempts at originality.

The production values of monster In Law are very glossy which makes the movie very slick and fairly fun to watch, but I wouldn't of said the costumes were really astounding or the sets were particularly lush. The running soundtrack is filled with jingly pop pieces designed to raise the mood of this dispiriting film but in the end it really doesn't work.

Overall I didn't think that Monster In Law was all that impressive, not that I was expecting much. The middle of the film is defiantly better than the weak beginning and stupid finale as the script gets tighter and the performance good, but the mean streak disappears revealing a predictable message of 'everyone is good and there is no evil in the world' Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez play off each other nicely, but that is undermined by a deeply confused script and sadly the physical comedy isn't all that funny. A more structured relationship between Charlie and Kevin would have been nice making the film more stable and giving the two women more reasons to fight for Kevin's affections. It isn't a good movie, but its not awful, just profoundly dumb.

DVD Features

Feature Length commentary by director and light speacilist
Deleted Scene's
Ruby's Makeup Bag
Gag Reel
Three Documentaries
Soundtrak
Theatrical Trailer
Teaser Trailer

Price: £7.97 ASIN: B000A3OOMC

Very Best Wishes To All Jay

Summary: A Fluffy piece of pop corn cinema