Monster-in-Law (2005)

Director:

Robert Luketic

Writer (WGA):

Anya Kochoff (written by)

Release Date:

13 May 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

She met the perfect man. Then she met his mother.

Plot:

The love life of Charlotte is reduced to an endless string of disastrous blind dates, until she meets the perfect man, Kevin. Unfortunately, his merciless mother will do anything to destroy their relationship.

Plot Keywords:

Breakdown | Scheme | Mother In Law | Fiancé | Office

Awards:

1 win & 9 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 24	8:00 PM	OXYGEN
Tue. Nov. 24	10:00 PM	OXYGEN

Cast

Jennifer Lopez	...	Charlotte 'Charlie' Cantilini
Jane Fonda	...	Viola Fields
Michael Vartan	...	Dr. Kevin Fields
Wanda Sykes	...	Ruby
Adam Scott	...	Remy
Monet Mazur	...	Fiona
Annie Parisse	...	Morgan
Will Arnett	...	Kit
Elaine Stritch	...	Gertrude
Stephen Dunham	...	Dr. Paul Chamberlain
Randee Heller	...	Beverly Hills Dog Owner
Mark Moses	...	Coffee Shop Customer
Tomiko Fraser	...	Coffee Shop Clerk
Rochelle Flexer	...	Dr. Patel's Nurse
Wayne Nickel	...	George

Also Known As:

Das Schwiegermonster (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sex references and language.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Sweden:Btl | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Hungary:14 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Germany:6 | South Korea:12 | Finland:K-3 | Australia:M | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Ireland:12A | Norway:7 | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | New Zealand:M | Philippines:PG-13 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:MG6 | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Jane Fonda joined the film after the filming of Elizabethtown (2005) was pushed back a few months.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Charlie is talking to George the first time she works for Dr. Patel's office, the position of the computer chair behind her changes from shot to shot.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Charlie sitting at her desk at home. Phone rings. Charlie lets the answering machine pick up and listens to the recording]
Charlotte 'Charlie' Cantilini: [Answering machine message] Hi, it's Charlie. Leave a message.
[Answering machine beeps to signal beginning of message]
Carol, from LA Temp Agency: [Leaving message on answering machine] Hi Charlie, it's Carol from the L.A. Temp Agency. Listen, Dr. Patel's office needs you for tomorrow. Is that ok? Let me know. Bye.
[Answering machine beeps signaling end of message]
Remy: [Charlie sketching]
[Remy walks in with cup of coffee and toast]
Remy: Morning neighbor.
[Chews toast]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Date Movie (2006)

Soundtrack:

Down with You

Tour de force from Jane Fonda

Jennifer Lopez may have insisted that her name appeared way above Jane Fonda's, but she is upstaged by Ms. Fonda in every scene. Makes you wonder why Jane Fonda has waited so long to make another movie .. she is excellent in this comedy and I hope this opens the door to more roles (hope it's not another 15 years).

This is much more a vehicle for Ms. Fonda's talents than Ms. Lopez's although JLo is pretty good too. JLo is after all a good actress, even though her real personality is far removed from the 'nice' roles she plays (and so they often don't ring true).

Of course some in the audience lampoon anything Jane Fonda is in because they will never forgive her for opposing the Vietnam War .. time to move on?

Overall I went into the theater expecting mildly funny, but found myself in the middle of a laugh out loud classic comedy and as you can probably tell, most impressed by Jane Fonda's performance :)