Monster-in-Law

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Monster-in-Law

PG-13

2005

1h 38m

Romance

Comedy

Drama

Musical

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

19%

Tomatometer

167 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Charlotte (Jennifer Lopez) is smitten when she meets Dr. Kevin Fields (Michael Vartan). So when Kevin pops the question after they start dating, Charlotte happily accepts. But she soon realizes that Kevin's mom, Viola (Jane Fonda), is not quite thrilled to have a new family member. Viola, a newscaster, has just lost her job and is feeling rather attached to Kevin, so she regards Charlotte as her new competition -- and will apparently do anything to make her son call off the wedding.

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Critics Consensus

While Jane Fonda steals the movie in her return to the screen, a tired script and flimsy performances make this borderline comedy fall flat.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

11/01/2007

The premise, though hardly fresh, has the makings of a ferocious black comedy. But Monster-in-Law is more a sour pastel.

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

05/21/2005

1.5/5

A banal and lukewarm slice of romantic comedy and family histrionics.

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

05/16/2005

This really plays a like a really bad sitcom from forty years ago.

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Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

11/18/2019

B-

If you are looking for a film with depth and character development, Monster-In-Law is probably not the film for you. Still, I couldnt help but enjoy most of the slapstick situations.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

11/13/2019

Despite its shortcomings (not the least of which is [Jennifer] Lopez), Monster-in-Law is the first must-see film of the spring and summer thanks to Jane Fonda's Viola.

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Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

04/08/2011

5/10

Fonda is terrific playing the mess that is Viola. Her introduction tells you everything you need to know about her: after learning she has been fired she attacks a vacuous Britney Spears clone on air. It never reaches that kind of mean-spirited fun again.

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Doug L

@RT90202007 Jun 28

It sucks the big one!

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 29

Monster-in-Law is one of those comedies that sounds like it should be fun on paper but ends up feeling surprisingly flat in execution. The premise has potential for sharp humor and chaotic family dynamics, but most of the jokes feel predictable and stretched, with very few genuinely memorable moments. The pacing drags in places, making the runtime feel longer than it actually is. Even with a talented cast, the material doesn’t give them much room to do anything fresh or interesting, so a lot of scenes fall into repetitive arguments and familiar rom-com clichés. It’s not completely without entertainment value, but it rarely rises above "background movie" status. If you’re looking for something sharp or consistently funny, this probably won’t deliver. Overall: 3/10 — more dull than disastrous, but still a disappointment for what it could have been.

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Shelisa D

@cautiouslyoptimistic Mar 3

When this movie was released, I was a high school senior and rented it 24 times during one summer. It remains one of my favorite movies of all time because the love story is complex and about mutual respect and coexistence rather than rescue and domination, something we didn't see much of at the time. I haven't seen anything like it since. Favorite rom-com of all time.

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Elaine P.

@elain7m Nov 4

Hilarious and entertaining for a romantic comedy. The stars give a great performance.

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alan g

@agenser Aug 23

Two of the most overratered actresses of all time. Hanoi Jane and J Low. Traitor should have been shot during the Vietnam war.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 06/19/2025

Unfunny in 1 hour and 40 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even the stars and crew agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Robert Luketic

Director

Jennifer Lopez

Charlie

Jane Fonda

Viola Fields

Michael Vartan

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Synopsis

Charlotte (Jennifer Lopez) is smitten when she meets Dr. Kevin Fields (Michael Vartan). So when Kevin pops the question after they start dating, Charlotte happily accepts. But she soon realizes that Kevin's mom, Viola (Jane Fonda), is not quite thrilled to have a new family member. Viola, a newscaster, has just lost her job and is feeling rather attached to Kevin, so she regards Charlotte as her new competition -- and will apparently do anything to make her son call off the wedding.

Director: Robert Luketic
Producer: Chris Bender, J.C. Spink, Paula Weinstein
Screenwriter: Anya Kochoff
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Benderspink
Rating: PG-13 (Sex References|Language)
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama, Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 13, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $82.9M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)