Adam Scott, Amber Mead, Annie Parisse

Unlucky in love, beautiful Charlotte 'Charlie' Cantilini (Jennifer Lopez) has finally met the man of her dreams, Dr. Kevin Fields (Michael Vartan). There's just one problem - his mother. Overbearing a...( read more  read more... )nd controlling, not to mention volatile, Viola Fields (Jane Fonda) has recently been canned from her job as a star news anchor. Fearing she will lose her son's affections as she has her career, Viola decides to break up the happy couple by becoming the world's worst mother-in-law. Helping her with her crazy schemes is Viola's long-time assistant, Ruby (Wanda Sykes). The gloves come off when Charlie finally decides to fight back and it looks like Viola has finally met her match.

Flixster Users

63% liked it

411,414 ratings

Critics

16% liked it

161 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Robert Luketic

Release Date: May 13, 2005

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DVD Release Date: August 30, 2005

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Stats: 18,366 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (18,366)


  • October 1, 2009
    This is fairly rubbish really, although Jane Fonda was good but this is a bit below her I think. The Elaine Stritch cameo is great also.
  • December 9, 2008
    Mildly amusing with a predictable outcome, an easy watching film that was surprisingly enjoyable.
  • April 5, 2008
    This was actually much funnier than I expected it to be.
  • February 3, 2008
    Pending Review...

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  • January 22, 2008
    They knew they wouldn't get any originality prizes for this one. There have been movies about awful in-laws before, and some of them were even pretty damn funny. This movie starts out rather decent, as the couple get to know each other. Sadly, their rather charming sidekicks disa...( read more)ppear almost entirely after that, especially Will Arnett's comical talent isn't used to its full potential. And why is the female's best friend ALWAYS gay if he is male? A stereotype that is slowly starting to piss me off. Still, the actors are barely to blame for how boring, predictable and unfunny the movie continues. Lopez is actually really cute, Vartan a charming leading man and Jane Fonda plays the bitchy mother in law really well. The script leaves them out in the cold, though. No charm, no really good jokes, no surprises. I didn't expect much at all and was still disappointed.
  • November 21, 2009
    Who in the hell decided to dig up Hanoi Jane and reanimate her corpse? Probably the same idiot who felt it necessary to pair her with wooden soldier Jennifer Lopez. Should've been a zombie movie with all the dead stiffs running around.
  • November 19, 2009
    Pretty stupid, actually. Like you'd expect, Fonda totally steals the show, but there lacks a whole lot of panache and inventiveness in this run-of-the-mill comedy to make her big-screen return worthwhile.
  • November 11, 2009
    I THIS MOVIE SO MUCH.....
  • November 8, 2009
    I enjoyed myself, that's what counts right? :D
  • November 4, 2009
    Jane Fonda is absolutely AWESOME in this movie!

Critic Reviews


May 13, 2005
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Fonda and Sykes are made for each other, and their incessant bickering and arguing are about the only things that give Monster-in-Law any life. full review

May 13, 2005
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Monster-in-Law is a comedy without laughs and a catfight without claws. full review

May 13, 2005
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

It's a crude, obvious comedy, which occasionally clunks, but it's often very funny, as well as being a really shrewd bit of popular entertainment. full review

May 13, 2005
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

The phrase 'chewing the scenery' never made much sense to me (is this a phrase used in normal human conversation? Ever?), but I know it when I see it. And Jane Fonda gnaws it to the bone in Monster-in... full review

May 12, 2005
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Lopez is treacly sweet to Fonda and finally attempts some tepid revenge about two-thirds of the way through. But too late: We've lost interest. full review

May 12, 2005
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Monster-in-Law fails the Gene Siskel Test: 'Is this film more interesting than a documentary of the same actors having lunch?' full review

May 12, 2005
David Edelstein, Slate

A slapstick chick-flick that flirts with a real theme before degenerating into the tale of two women playing sadistic tricks on each other. full review

May 4, 2005
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Knockabout comic is just the latest incarnation in Fonda's life so far. Let her rip. full review

View more Monster-in-Law reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • rondarblake
    February 18, 2009
    This is the best movie evr it is so good
  • naaroslyn
    April 28, 2008
    i love this movie ,infact all mother in-laws should get a copy and live we wemen alone to enjoy our husbands love,just like they enjoy theirs and stop depriving us of what belongs to us.
  • mariefuller80
    April 7, 2008
    Monster-in-Law is an outrageous and over-the-top comedy that had me laughing throughout
  • pontingjessiel
    March 12, 2008
    love this movie so much,ha ha ha ha ha ha very funny
  • sportboy
    February 21, 2008
    This looks great.
  • solyhotZzpot
    February 7, 2008
    i like this movie so much its so funny ,and i think that it may be present in real life:))
  • MADQueen51
    December 10, 2007
    I totally loved Wanda Sykes in this movie. She was Great!!!!
  • milka125
    August 27, 2007
    i love this movie its never boring.jlo its the best
  • galaxygirl100
    June 14, 2007
    It sucked.
    It doesn't deserve any more words than that.
  • KatieSchieman
    June 10, 2007
    I love this movie it rox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Monster-in-Law Trivia


  • Who played the Moster-in-Law (Mother-In-Law) in the movie Monster-In-Law?  Answer »
  • Which actor was in Monster-In-Law, One Hou Photo, Never Been Kissed and the TV Series Alias?  Answer »
  • Who plays Jennifer Lopez's fiancee and Jane Fonda's son on the movie Monster-In-Law?  Answer »
  • "In which movie did Jane Fonda imagine herself repeatedly pushing Jennifer Lopez,s face into a cake?"  Answer »

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