Monster-in-Law (2005)
Directed by Robert Luketic
Office temp Charlotte Cantilini thinks she's found Mr. Right when she starts dating gorgeous surgeon Dr. Kevin Fields. But there's a problem standing in the way of everlasting bliss: Kevin's overbearing and controlling mother, Viola. Fearing she'll lose her son's affections forever, Viola decides to break up the happy couple by becoming the world's worst mother-in-law.
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What critics compared Monster-in-Law to
Director Robert Luketic ( 21 , Monster-in-Law , Legally Blonde ) has always been a strict adherent to the modern style-over-substance school of filmmaking, and The Ugly Truth is suitably glossy and slick.
By now it’s a well-worn concept, and director Robert Luketic’s knack for delivering commercially successful but creatively shrugworthy formula films like “Monster-in-Law” and “21” doesn’t inspire much confidence that “The Ugly Truth” will find a fresh angle for it.
What it probably won't mention is that it's also from the same people who brought you such classics as "Monster-in-Law" and "The House Bunny."
Directed with workman-like efficiency by Australia’s Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Monster-in-Law).
A mild improvement over filmmaker Robert Luketic's last few efforts (The Ugly Truth, 21, Monster-in-Law, etc, etc), Killers follows uptight career woman Jen Kornfeldt (Katherine Heigl) as she reluctantly agrees to tag along with her parents (Tom Selleck and Catherine O'Hara) on a trip to France.
The Lopez-Fonda-Vartan axis in particular bears a striking resemblance to the Reese Witherspoon-Candice Bergen-Patrick Dempsey relationship from "Sweet Home Alabama."
Hawn, in theory at least, is supposed to be playing one of those cranky maternal comic nightmares, like Shirley MacLaine in “Terms of Endearment” or “Postcards from the Edge” or — to tie it to the franchise era of Mother’s-Day-weekend-as-marketing concept — Jane Fonda in “Monster-in-Law.”
Director Robert Luketic ("Legally Blonde," "Monster-in-Law") has aimed for a "Casino" 90210 style that works until its third act revenge story takes it beyond the realms of belief.
Director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde; Monster-in-Law) approaches the material with a practiced breeziness, like there's no reason we wouldn't empathize with a boy genius en route to a degree from M.I.T. who couldn't scrape together $300,000 for medical school.
His last direction was the wretched "Monster-in-Law" (2006) with Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda.
Big question: Can director Robert Luketic ("Legally Blonde," "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!," "Monster-in-Law") capture the risky, big-money action behind this mostly true story, adapted from the non-fiction bestseller "Bringing Down the House"?
If there was anything of value to the story, asking Luketic (he of Monster-In-Law and Legally Blonde ) to take the reins guaranteed a thin, easily-digested slurry sure to rake it in during the winter release dead zone.