Enough to make a bride run

Whether you think Jane Fonda is a tank-sittin’ hussy with about as much respect for this country as a dog has for a tree or one of our greatest living actresses, there’s no denying she’s brilliant at handling her own publicity.

Monster-in-Law is about as perfect a fit as Fonda could have chosen for her first movie in 15 years. Her last was the not-so-perfect Stanley and Iris with Robert DeNiro. The new film allows her to step comfortably back into the role of star while avoiding the embarrassment that a romantic part might have caused. Although Fonda acquits herself admirably, Monster-in-Law itself is somewhat less than perfect.

Fonda plays Viola Fields, a network news anchor who has interviewed everyone from Henry Kissinger to the Dalai Lama. When she is fired, she has a nervous breakdown. After cooling off for a few months in the local mental hospital, Viola is faced with another shock: Her beloved only son, Kevin (Michael Vartan), a successful physician, brings home his new girlfriend, Charlie (Jennifer Lopez). Kevin surprises both women when he proposes to Charlie and she accepts. Instead of being happy for her son, Viola is upset, being too fragile to accept any more changes in her life. She decides the best course of action is to scare away Charlie by being the worst mother-in-law in the history of womankind.

With the assistance of her reluctant but loyal assistant Ruby (Wanda Sykes), Viola makes Charlie’s life a living hell. Whether throwing a "surprise" engagement party or taking over the wedding plans, Viola pretty much violates every rule in the mother-in-law codebook. When Charlie finally gets hip to Viola’s machinations, the gloves come off as the two women in Kevin’s life commence a battle royal for domination. The film is directed by Robert Luketic, who directed the infinitely better Legally Blonde (2001). Although in some ways even broader than Monster-in-Law, the earlier film had an inner logic that it never violated: The dumb blonde turns out to be a smart cookie, offering some dimension to the character.

In Monster-in-Law, Viola and Charlie seem to be created for the express purpose of going at each other’s throats. There are many funny moments, to be sure, but the film wears out its welcome about three-quarters through.

The two costars are fine. Fonda, usually known as a serious actress, always had a knack for comedy as well. Lopez has more talent than her diva rep suggests and does a nice job here.

Monster-in-Law marks a notable return to the big screen for a great actress, but could have been a better movie.

Monster-in-Law

PG-13

Starting tomorrow at area theaters

Two-and-a-half reels out of four

Recommended rental

Team America: World Police
R
Available Tuesday

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the controversial but convulsively hilarious South Park, are at it again with this send-up of big-budget, special-effects-laden action movies. Using the Thunderbirds (a popular 1960s children’s series) as inspiration, Team America: World Police employs crass marionette puppets in lieu of computer-generated images to portray an elite group of adventurers. Their mission: travel the world and destroy the evil terrorists who threaten our way of life. The puppets were created by Norman Tempia along with Charles and Stephen Chiodo, the brothers behind the cult classic Killer Klowns from Outer Space.