20 Years Later: Why ‘Monster-in-Law’ is a Must-Watch Streaming Sensation!

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The 2005 romantic comedy “Monster-in-Law” starring Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda is currently a popular choice on Hulu, ranking fifth among their streamed content. In this movie, Jennifer Lopez portrays Charlie who falls for a doctor named Kevin (played by Michael Vartan). After a while, the couple decides to get engaged. However, trouble arises when Kevin’s mother, Viola (Jane Fonda), goes to great lengths to sabotage their relationship before they tie the knot.

Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,” which came out later that month. Despite receiving harsh criticism when it first hit screens, audiences still found it enjoyable enough to make it successful. At present, the movie has a dismal 19% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience’s appreciation is slightly higher, with a 55% approval rating.

Without a shadow of a doubt, one could argue that the most captivating aspect of the movie is Fonda’s performance, where she portrays a formidable mother-in-law, seemingly intent on disrupting her son’s relationship with his fiancée. Notably, this was her return to acting after a 15-year hiatus, as her previous film, Stanley & Iris (1990), marked the end of that period. The remainder of the cast also delivers commendable performances, with Wanda Sykes as Ruby, Adam Scott (Severence) as Remy, and Will Arnett (Arrested Development) as Kit contributing to the overall humor.

As a cinephile, I must confess that Jennifer Lopez’s latest rom-com might not be her finest hour, but with Valentine’s Day approaching, it seems that classic romantic comedies like “Monster-in-Law” are experiencing a resurgence. At the moment, on Hulu, titles such as “Titanic,” “Monster-in-Law,” “There’s Something About Mary,” “The Notebook,” and “The Proposal” have all found themselves among the North American Top 15 chart.

Jennifer Lopez Had a String of Hit Rom-Coms

After making a significant impact with her roles in “Selena” (1997) and “Out of Sight” (1998), Jennifer Lopez continued to shine, particularly in romantic comedies that often proved to be box office successes. For instance, in 2001’s “The Wedding Planner”, she shared the screen with Matthew McConaughey, and their chemistry resulted in a successful movie. However, she surpassed this achievement with an even more profitable film the following year, titled “Maid in Manhattan” (2002). In this movie, Lopez portrayed a maid at a luxurious hotel in New York City who was mistaken for a socialite by a politician played by Ralph Fiennes.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’ve always enjoyed diving into the world of romantic comedies, and Jennifer Lopez has been a consistent favorite in this genre. She’s graced our screens in a variety of rom-coms, ranging from the critically acclaimed like ‘The Wedding Planner’ and ‘Maid in Manhattan’, to the moderately successful like ‘Monster-in-Law’, and even some less popular ones such as ‘Gigli’. However, it was ‘Gigli’ where she met her on-again, off-again partner, Ben Affleck. If you’re planning a Jennifer Lopez rom-com movie marathon, I’d highly recommend adding ‘The Wedding Planner’, ‘Maid in Manhattan’, ‘Monster-in-Law’, and ‘The Backup Plan’ to your list. The latter also stars Alex O’Loughlin.

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2025-02-14 03:06