Monster-in-Law Hits Close to Home

The Movielie

The Film Cynic's attempt to relate his
life to the movies. 
8/21/05:

I haven't seen Monster-in-Law, but if tension continues building in the month leading to my brother's wedding, then I won't need to. It seems that a few miscommunications could upset the relationship between my mother and our future in-law and my immediate concerns were inspired by what I've witnessed in the recent film's trailer.

But mostly I am recalling the general stereotypes portrayed on screen since the beginning. Lately we've seen a great deal of Meet the Parents set-ups and their alterations of the conventional theme, but the basic idea has always focused on the man and his sour relationship with his wife's mother. Going back all the way to the 1st century AD, Roman poet Juvenal wrote in his Satire VI that a man has no hope for peace as long as his mother-in-law is alive. On film the theme was popular from the earliest comedic shorts and when television arrived, it adapted very well to sitcoms like The Honeymooners. And those who don't watch movies or TV are sure to have heard Ernie K-Doe's hit song from 1961, "Mother-In-Law".

I cannot imagine disliking my mother-in-law, whenever the time comes that I may have one. I absolutely love my girlfriend's mom, and I see in her many sources of the traits that attracted me to her daughter. I haven't dated much in my life, but I have gotten along with the few girls' mothers pretty well. One mother nearly got punched by my own mom for saying that I'm not good enough for her daughter (I'm sure other mothers have problems with my lack of future security), but otherwise my relationship with the woman was civil.

I have no idea how well my brother and his future mother-in-law get along, but he can be somewhat conventional so the stereotype is likely to appear down the road as a matter of tradition. As for my mother and his fiancée, I hope that no problems actually surface, because unlike in the movies, real people don't have a third-act heart-to-heart (aside from some reconciliations made by people who are terminally aware).

Article Author: Film Cynic

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