Monster-in-Law, Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda’s rom-com from 2005, is a streaming hit on Hulu, where it currently sits at number five on the streamer. The film follows Charlie (Lopez) who falls for a doctor named Kevin (Michael Vartan). After a period of dating, the couple become engaged, but that’s when things take a turn for the worst.Kevin’s mother, Viola (Fonda), will stop at nothing to do whatever she can to break the relationship up before they get married.
The film was a box office hit when it debuted on Aug 20, 2025,making over $155 million at the worldwide box officeon a production budget of only $43 million.Monster-in-Lawwas also good counter-programming toStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, which opened later that month. While it did take a critical drubbing when it opened, audiences still liked it enough to make it a hit.Currently, the film sits at a terrible 19% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences like it a bit more, giving it a 55% rating.
There is no doubt thatthe highlight of the film is Fonda chewing the scenery as the monstrous mother-in-law trying to tear apart her son and his fiancée. It was her first film in 15 years, asStanley & Iris(1990) was her last film prior toMonster-in-Law. The rest of the cast is pretty good, including comedienne Wanda Sykes as Ruby, Adam Scott (Severence) as Remy, and the always funny Will Arnett (Arrested Development) as Kit.
As far as Lopez-starring rom-coms go,this one isn’t her best, but since Valentine’s Day is upon us, romantic comedies such asMonster-in-Laware climbing up the streaming charts. On Hulu alone, as of this writing,Titanic, Monster-in-Law, There’s Something About Mary, The Notebook, andThe Proposal, are all in the North American Top 15 chart.
Since her breakout role inSelena(1997) as the famous late singer, andOut of Sight(1998), Stephen Soderbergh’s crime thriller with George Clooney, Lopez went on tostar in a number of romantic comedies, many of which were hits. 2001’sThe Wedding Planner, with Lopez falling in love with Matthew McConaughey’s character, Steve. The movie was a success, but she followed it up with an even bigger box office hit,Maid in Manhattan(2002). In the film, Lopez stars as a New York City maid at a high-end hotel, and she is mistaken for a socialite by a politician played by Ralph Fiennes.
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Lopez has been in several other romantic comedies of varying quality and success, includingThe Back-Up Plan(2010),What to Expect When You’re Expecting(2012 and based on the famous books), the awfulGigli(2006) where she met on-again and off-again future husband Ben Affleck, and a few others.If you’re looking for a Lopez rom-com movie marathon, the best films to add to your queue would beThe Wedding Planner, Maid-in-Manhattan, Monster-in-Law, andThe Backup Plan, which also starred Alex O’Loughlin.
Monster-in-Law
