Monster-in-Law

[Brian in Mesa]

Monster-in-Law

Release Date: May 13, 2005
Studio: New Line Cinema
Director: Robert Luketic
Screenwriter: Anya Kochoff, Richard LaGravenese

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan, Wanda Sykes, Adam Scott

Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sex references and language)
Website: Monster-in-Law

Plot Summary: 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 and 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.

 

[Ryanwb]

Jane Fonda? I am so there!

 

[CardFan67]

Monster In Law

I could not find an existing thread on this one...

Saw this over the weekend with my Mother for her birthday...

Some pretty funny parts, most of which were already seen via the trailers. Enjoyable, Corny, predictable, but overall I would not classify it as a waste of money. Personally I thought Jane Fonda looked like heck...

Very surprising that this would be the type of movie Fonda would try to make a comeback with...

----------------------
After years of looking for Mr. Right, Charlotte 'Charlie' Cantilini (Jennifer Lopez) finally finds the man of her dreams, Kevin Fields (Michael Vartan), only to discover that his mother, Viola (Jane Fonda), is the woman of her nightmares. A recently fired national news anchor who is afraid she will lose her son the way she has just lost her career, Viola determines to scare off her son's new fiancé by becoming the world's worst mother-in-law. While Viola's long-time assistant Ruby (Wanda Sykes) does her best to help Viola execute her crazy schemes, Charlie decides to fight back and the gloves come off as the two women battle it out to see just who is the alpha-female.

-- © New Line Cinema

 

[CardFan67]

Doh, here is the existing one... Where is the merge button...


Sorry... it was those darned dashes between the words that made in unsearchable... and if you give me more time I will find another excuse...

 

[Pariah]

I won't pay money to see Jane Fonda--not even if the movie looked good.

 

[CardFan67]

It was not my choice... My mother's B-day, her movie pick... She is a quadrapelegic (sp?) so it is pretty rare she gets to get out... When we are out I pretty much let her pick the day...


Cool - and thanks for merging these threads...

 

[Stout]

Unless Fonda is actually dying for real in the movie, there's no way I'll see anything involving her.

 

[Rivercard]

Unless Fonda is actually dying for real in the movie, there's no way I'll see anything involving her.

A Jane Fonda snuff film may be her best opportunity for a blockbuster.

 

[Stout]

A Jane Fonda snuff film may be her best opportunity for a blockbuster.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

A Jane Fonda snuff film may be her best opportunity for a blockbuster.

 

[phillycard]

Ehhhh Lopez. I can't stomach her. Her only redeeming quality is the booty, and even thats taken a back seat to her irritating personality.

 

[Pariah]

Banned In KY

Jane Fonda Film Banned From Ky. Theaters

Tue May 17, 7:47 PM ET


The owner of two Kentucky theaters has refused to show the new Jane Fonda film "Monster-in-Law" because of the activist role the actress took during the Vietnam War.

Ike Boutwell, who trained pilots during the Vietnam War, displayed pictures of Fonda clapping with a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft crew in 1972 outside the Elizabethtown Movie Palace to show his disapproval. The marquee outside Showtime Cinemas in nearby Radcliff reads: "No Jane Fonda movie in this theater."

Both theaters are just a few miles from the Army post of Fort Knox, south of Louisville.

"I think when people do something, they need to be held responsible for their actions," Boutwell said. "When you give the enemy aid, it makes the war last longer."

Fonda has apologized for being photographed on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun, but not for opposing the war.

"Monster-in-Law" raked in more than $23 million last weekend as the top-grossing movie across the country, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. and Nielsen EDI Inc. In the film, Fonda plays Jennifer Lopez's villainous prospective mother-in-law, trying to stop Lopez from marrying her son.

Sal Mancuso, an Elizabethtown resident, said he personally thanked Boutwell for not showing the film.

"I think Vietnam veterans appreciate this," said Mancuso, who fought in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam war. "There is no defense for what she did."

Boutwell also banned previous Jane Fonda films, as well as Michael Moore's film, "Fahrenheit 9/11."

 

[Stout]

Jane Fonda Film Banned From Ky. Theaters

Tue May 17, 7:47 PM ET


The owner of two Kentucky theaters has refused to show the new Jane Fonda film "Monster-in-Law" because of the activist role the actress took during the Vietnam War.

Ike Boutwell, who trained pilots during the Vietnam War, displayed pictures of Fonda clapping with a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft crew in 1972 outside the Elizabethtown Movie Palace to show his disapproval. The marquee outside Showtime Cinemas in nearby Radcliff reads: "No Jane Fonda movie in this theater."

Both theaters are just a few miles from the Army post of Fort Knox, south of Louisville.

"I think when people do something, they need to be held responsible for their actions," Boutwell said. "When you give the enemy aid, it makes the war last longer."

Fonda has apologized for being photographed on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun, but not for opposing the war.

"Monster-in-Law" raked in more than $23 million last weekend as the top-grossing movie across the country, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. and Nielsen EDI Inc. In the film, Fonda plays Jennifer Lopez's villainous prospective mother-in-law, trying to stop Lopez from marrying her son.

Sal Mancuso, an Elizabethtown resident, said he personally thanked Boutwell for not showing the film.

"I think Vietnam veterans appreciate this," said Mancuso, who fought in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam war. "There is no defense for what she did."

Boutwell also banned previous Jane Fonda films, as well as Michael Moore's film, "Fahrenheit 9/11."

 

[Rivercard]

You may not agree with Fonda, and you may hate her guts, but to support blacklisting her or any artist from distribution on the basis of political stances is showing incredible weakness on your part. Anyone who supports all these wars we wage to "spread freedom and democracy to the world" should be outraged at this theatres actions.

 

[Chaplin]

You may not agree with Fonda, and you may hate her guts, but to support blacklisting her or any artist from distribution on the basis of political stances is showing incredible weakness on your part. Anyone who supports all these wars we wage to "spread freedom and democracy to the world" should be outraged at this theatres actions.

Agreed. I despise Jane Fonda, but this is just another political form of censorship. And it hurts not only Fonda herself (well, not really), but the other below-the-line workers, like grips, PAs and assistants.

 

[Pariah]

It's not censorship if the government isn't doing it. This guy owns a theater and doesn't want to show a Fonda film. So what? It's a free county and he has every right to show or not show whatever he wants.

It has nothing to do with "weakness," it has nothing to do with "censorship," and it has nothing to do with a violation of free speech.

 

[Pariah]

Also, as for hurting other employees/contractors associated with the production...don't grips, PA and electricians get paid a wage that has nothing at all to do with how successful or unsuccessful a movie is? That's how I got paid when I was a PA...but maybe the industry is giving percentages to grips now.

 

[Rivercard]

It's not censorship if the government isn't doing it.

OK, let's call it banned instead of censored. It is still weakness.

 

[Pariah]

OK, let's call it banned instead of censored. It is still weakness.

It's called a free market society. The man who owns the theater has no responsibility to show a jane fonda movie.

How is that a weakness?

 

[Chaplin]

Also, as for hurting other employees/contractors associated with the production...don't grips, PA and electricians get paid a wage that has nothing at all to do with how successful or unsuccessful a movie is? That's how I got paid when I was a PA...but maybe the industry is giving percentages to grips now.

That is correct, but Hollywood is also based on reputation.
"I worked on Monster-In-Law, which was banned by theaters in the South..."
"You're hired!"

 

[Chaplin]

It's called a free market society. The man who owns the theater has no responsibility to show a jane fonda movie.

How is that a weakness?

You mean it's ok just like a Church can ban Democrats from attending, right?

Oh well. Doesn't really matter, I guess I just don't agree with the ethical implications of the move.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I agree with Pariah - the guy owns the theater and can choose what to play and what not to play.

I remember in recent years, Dan Harkins got into an argument with New Line over something and he refused to show ANY New Line films in ANY of his theaters.

 

[Pariah]

You mean it's ok just like a Church can ban Democrats from attending, right?

Oh well. Doesn't really matter, I guess I just don't agree with the ethical implications of the move.

A church shouldn't be able to ban someone from attending based on political views, no. I'm not sure what the laws are about it (if there are any) but the church receives a tax-exempt status from the gov't so they're not exactly "private," I don't think. I'm not sure.

But really, Chaplin? You don't see the difference? Let's say it's not a Jane Fonda film, but pornography. Is it censorship or banning if a theater owner decides he doesn't want to play a porno in his theater? No, it's a choice--that's not the type of theater he wants to be.

 

[Rivercard]

I agree with Pariah - the guy owns the theater and can choose what to play and what not to play.

I don't know how the private theater business works but I would imagine he might have some sort of deal with the distributors. I wonder if there was a breech of contract or if the guy can just pick and choose what he wants?

 

[Pariah]

That is correct, but Hollywood is also based on reputation.
"I worked on Monster-In-Law, which was banned by theaters in the South..."
"You're hired!"

By the smiley face, I assume you know this is pretty ridiculous. The only person who might even possibly be affected by this is Fonda. Everyone knows the reason this movie isn't being shown in the KY theater is because she's in it and not because Joe Shmo was the gaffer.