Monster-in-Law (2005)

Kino International

Daughters of the Dust

Film.com's FREE movie of the week is "Daughters of the Dust." A film that portrays the unique culture of the Gullah people by focusing on the extended Peazant family as its members struggle with the decision to leave their island and move north. On the eve of their departure, memories of their Gullah history and its African roots come rising to the surface. Winner of Cinematography at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival.

Studio: New Line Cinema

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: May 8, 2005

Running Time: 95 mins.

Country Of Origin: United States

starring: Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan, Wanda Sykes, Adam Scott, Will Arnett, Monet Mazur, Elaine Stritch, Annie Parisse, Stephen Dunham

director: Robert Luketic

After years of looking for Mr. Right, Charlotte 'Charlie' Cantilini finally finds the ultimate man of her dreams, Kevin Fields--only to discover that his mother, Viola, is the woman of her nightmares. A recently fired 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 fiance by becoming the world's worst mother-in-law. While Viola's long-time assistant Ruby 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.

It's pretty simple. Girl meets boy of her dreams, falls in love, and then has to deal with a nightmare of a soon-to-be mother-in-law. The girl in question is Charlotte ''Charlie'' Cantilini (Jennifer Lopez), a free spirit who one day meets the unbelievably hunky surgeon Kevin Fields (Michael Vartan) on the beach and, as they say, the rest is history. Until, that is, the newly engaged Charlie meets her fiancé's overprotective mother, Viola (Fonda), a recently deposed news anchorwoman. Charlie…

PETER TRAVERS - May 5, 2005

Barbarella is back. that's right, Jane Fonda, whose nudie romp in that 1968 sci-fi sex saga is still a rouser on DVD, has returned to movies for the first time in fifteen years. She doesn't hide the lines on her strong, patrician face. She doesn't need to -- class and beauty will always win out. Fonda, 67, plays a mother. And what a mother. Viola Fields is a talk-show star of Barbara Walters wattage. She is about to be replaced by a bimbo. Her sassy assistant (Wanda Sykes) remembers Viola…