After twenty years, are Kevin and Charlie still together? And has Viola overcome her controlling and dramatic tendencies, finally accepting that any woman is worthy of her son? (Let’s not forget the incident with the nut allergy…)
Even if the relationship in Monster-in-Law—featuring Jennifer Lopez as Charlie and Jane Fonda as Viola—wasn’t destined to last, the movie had a happy ending. Despite all the fighting over Michael Vartan’s character, Dr. Perfect, he somehow remained oblivious to the tension between the two women.
It doesn’t really matter if Vartan’s character, Kevin, deserved all this drama. Right now, we’re probably relieved to see Charlie leave this toxic situation – and escaping with a little help from Wanda Sykes’ character, Ruby, who’s giving her a ride.
While Viola’s behavior is extreme, there are understandable reasons behind it. And if you look beyond the surface conflict between the women in this film, you’ll discover a strong feminist message.
Interestingly, that’s when I began to feel liberated,” Fonda remembered in a 2011 interview with The New Yorker. “It was like, ‘Forget it all!’
“It was this stupid popcorn movie,” she continued, “but that was a liberating film for me.”
It’s a lot of fun! Jane Fonda comes out of retirement, and Jennifer Lopez’s character finally gets the happy ending she’s earned in a romantic comedy.
Fonda told TopMob she was genuinely happy with the film. She felt a lighter, comedic approach was exactly what it needed, and a more serious tone wouldn’t have worked as well. It was a perfect fit for where she was at in her career, and she especially enjoyed being able to make people laugh.
To celebrate how much fun it is to watch Monster-in-Law again and again, here are 15 behind-the-scenes secrets about the movie…
Jane Fonda received the script for Monster-in-Law after a long break from movies. Her last film had been Stanley & Iris in 1990, after which she married Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, and decided to stop acting.
In a 2013 CNN interview, Jane Fonda recounted a conversation with Ted Turner during one of their early dates. He told her she’d have to end her acting career if they were to have a relationship, which she found surprisingly forward. Later in the conversation, Turner clarified, saying he thought she wouldn’t give up her career unless she won an Academy Award. Fonda playfully responded that she’d already won two Oscars.
She explained that she’d intended to do it regardless, and it was a combination of wanting to do it herself and Ted’s influence.
She explained that she retired because she was deeply unhappy and disconnected from her feelings. She had been relying solely on willpower to get through life, which stifled her creativity, and making her final films extremely difficult. She realized she didn’t want to live in fear anymore, and meeting Ted Turner gave her the freedom to step away.
Jane Fonda told Forbes in 2011 that she didn’t have any romantic or sexual relationships for seven years after her divorce in 2001, and she realized she was content with that.
In 2005, Jane Fonda explained to TopMob News why she chose Monster-in-Law as her return to acting. She said she’d changed a lot in the 15 years since she’d stopped, and she was curious if those changes would make acting more enjoyable. The character appealed to her because it was so exaggerated, offering a fun way to test that theory.
Fonda said it was a truly joyful experience. She felt it wouldn’t have worked as well as a serious or dramatic film. It was exactly what she needed – a chance to laugh and enjoy herself.
Jane Fonda once explained to reporters that she initially struggled to understand her character’s villainous behavior in the script and had to create a history for her. She revealed that Ted, a colleague, inspired some of the character’s dramatic outbursts and exaggerated reactions.
In an interview with LiveAbout, she described him as someone who constantly had to apologize – even more than she did. She said he’s hilarious, unrestrained, and doesn’t hold back, but also incredibly charming and unlike anyone she’d ever met. When she was cast as Viola, she felt free to really exaggerate the character, because she knew exactly what that kind of behavior looked like, thanks to him.
She clarified that the movie title, Monster-in-Law, shouldn’t give the wrong impression. She’s very fond of him, really adores him, and they’re good friends.
Despite learning that Turner had been unfaithful throughout their relationship, as she revealed in her 2005 memoir, My Life So Far, Jane Fonda and Turner remained friends. In a 2018 interview with The New Yorker, Fonda explained how difficult it was to leave him at age 62, as she felt she had lost her career and financial independence. While she was comfortable and cared for, she realized she needed to pursue her own path to become fully herself. She attempted to explain this to Turner, but he struggled to understand.
In 2019, Jennifer Lopez remembered being nervous about having to physically interact with Jane Fonda during filming. She explained on the podcast Making a Scene that Fonda’s character mirrored her own confident personality, while Lopez’s character reflected her own timidity. Lopez was worried about accidentally hurting Fonda, but Fonda playfully encouraged her to just go for it, assuring her it would be okay.
It’s no surprise Charlie is upset that Viola wore white to her wedding, and when Charlie’s future mother-in-law keeps criticizing Viola as a match for her son, things quickly escalate from playful jabs to a full-blown argument.
Lopez recalled one slap being particularly forceful. She said the scene unexpectedly escalated, becoming much more intense than they had planned. ‘I honestly didn’t realize we were even meant to hit each other,’ she admitted.
Though Fonda assured reported “they were fake slaps,” she admitted, “I did get cut.”
Lopez remembered noticing a small injury on top of Fonda’s eyelid, like a blister filled with blood. She explained that her fingernail had accidentally scratched Fonda’s eye. (Fonda later said she thought Lopez’s diamond ring had caused it.) Lopez was very upset and apologized repeatedly, but Fonda quickly assured her it wasn’t a big deal and that she was okay.
As a huge fan, let me tell you, watching Viola repeatedly push Charlie’s face into that cake? It instantly brought to mind Jennifer Lopez falling face-first into a cake, with Fonda seemingly guiding – or maybe even helping – her head down. It was that exact visual!
Jane Fonda told TopMob News she’s a big fan of physical comedy. She also praised Jennifer Lopez, highlighting her natural talent as a dancer. Fonda explained that Lopez is skilled at creating choreography that looks risky, even though it’s safe, and Fonda said she learned a lot from watching her.
Was shoving J.Lo’s face in a cake difficult? “No, it was fun,” Fonda chuckled.
The ladies got along great on set and Fonda gave Lopez a diamond watch when they were done filming.
In a 2005 interview with Hollywood.com, Jane Fonda said everything went smoothly and couldn’t have been better.
Jennifer Lopez described working with Jane Fonda as a dream come true, calling it a peak moment in her career. On the podcast Making a Scene, Lopez said Fonda is incredibly captivating and present, embodying everything an aspiring actress hopes for when imagining working with legendary performers.
She added, “Honestly, I was surprised she even agreed to be in the movie. Afterwards, she told me it was because she wanted to collaborate with me, which really blew me away.”
Michael Vartan admitted he was very nervous about working with Jennifer Lopez, who was a hugely popular singer and romantic comedy actress at the time, and veteran star Jane Fonda. He told TopMob News in 2005 that he was “shaking like a leaf” the night before filming began.
I decided early on not to form opinions based on what I’d read about these people. I just wanted to focus on doing my job and assess them for myself. From the very beginning, they really went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and included.
Everyone really appreciated what they did. “It was above and beyond,” Vartan said, “and it meant a lot to me that they took the time, especially because they’re genuinely kind people.”
He wasn’t the only one feeling that way. Fonda and Lopez were also very curious about each other, and even Wanda Sykes admitted she found working with Fonda a little intimidating.
Vartan had gained recognition from his roles in Alias and Never Been Kissed, and he was attracted to Monster-in-Law because it offered a fresh take on the typical romantic comedy formula.
The show has more comedic elements than romantic ones, and explores the more complex and troubled aspects of its characters. I was really excited to see what Jane and Jennifer would do with their roles, and it was often hard not to laugh during filming.
Everyone anticipated Sykes being funny, Vartan explained to Hollywood.com, but Fonda and Lopez were surprisingly hilarious – truly off the wall, he said.
Sykes shared that Vartan, while appearing serious in the film, was actually quite funny and had a dry wit when they weren’t filming, and Sykes confirmed this was true.
He described it as shockingly disturbing and unpleasant, but admitted to TopMob News that it’s precisely that darkness which grounds him and keeps him ethical in this unpredictable line of work.
Jane Fonda really enjoyed working with Sykes, who plays Ruby, Viola’s wonderfully direct and devoted assistant. Fonda said they clicked immediately and both love to improvise. For example, the moment when Viola runs inside and yells after Kevin proposes to Charlie, and Ruby jokes they’ll need something stronger than champagne—that whole scene was made up on the spot.
It was hard for anyone to stand out when Jane Fonda was around, but Broadway legend Elaine Stritch did just that. She played Gertrude, Viola’s difficult and overbearing mother-in-law, and commanded attention.
In an appearance on Making a Scene, Lopez recalled a memorable line from one of her films: ‘And you used to drink wine—from a box!’ She called it a favorite movie moment, adding that it was challenging to stand out when acting alongside Jane Fonda. However, her character, Elaine, came in and completely nailed the scene. Lopez described it as a particularly rewarding experience early in her career.
Jane Fonda was preparing for hip replacement surgery after finishing her promotional tour, but she never let on that she was in any pain or discomfort. She appeared completely healthy and energetic throughout.
While living in Georgia with her husband Turner, Fonda donated half of her earnings to organizations she founded there, such as the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention.
Jane Fonda said she took the role because she wanted to have fun. She told Entertainment Weekly that she’d never played a character like Viola before, describing her as completely over-the-top and outrageous. She enjoyed the experience so much, she’s hoping to make a sequel.
Because the movie Monster-in-Law was very successful – earning over $155 million globally with a $43 million production cost – discussions about making a second film probably occurred.
In the 2007 film Georgia Rule, Fonda played a supporting role as a strict grandmother who takes in her rebellious granddaughter, played by Lindsay Lohan. The film explores themes related to the history of starlets and family dynamics.
In 2014, Fox briefly considered a sitcom called Monster-in-Law based on the movie, but the show never made it to air.
When asked who would win in a fight, both Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez playfully picked each other. Lopez joked to Hollywood.com that Jane wins in the movie, while Fonda said J.Lo would win because she’s younger.
Vartan offered a diplomatic take, predicting a very tight contest that would likely result in a split decision. However, he quickly added that Wanda Sykes would easily win against both of them.
Sykes explained his approach, saying it’s about confronting challenges directly. He compared it to facing someone in prison, stating he believes in making a bold statement and asserting himself.
Jane Fonda recounted that her first day on set after a 15-year absence was a costume and makeup test. She told LiveAbout that before filming even began, director Robert Luketic quietly welcomed her back, which moved her to tears.
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2025-11-29 18:18