After the most devastating breakup with her boyfriend Jacob whom she has been with for quite some time, Laura is having the most awful time or worst of her life. As if all of this is not enough her cancer treatments are abandoned as she felt sick of the one person who claims to love her. Her ex who was supposed to take care of her got sick of the whole situation and bailed, leaving her sobbing while driving her belongings to her mother’s house. Worst of all not only did he break up with her, but he also told her to stay away from the new project she was supposed to assist with. Laura has a loud and obnoxious friend who takes it upon herself to bring Laura home and let her cry in peace. Laura’s life takes a turn for the worse when one stormy night, she encounters a fierce looking beast who has been creeping her out of the closet ever since she was a child. But instead of fright, the monster gets angry at the sight of Laura as he most probably did not wish to see her again. However, Laura vows to prove otherwise when she audaciously goes to audition for Jacob’s show after promising herself that the monster will not be able to intimidate her.
The idea sounds interesting as Laura embarks on a journey for acceptance both societal and personal, but sadly the film that Caroline Lindy wrote and directed does not deliver.
Your Monster is well compared to the modern beauty and the beast that touches the world of Broadway featuring our heartbroken singer as she dives into the grueling competitive world of musical theater instead of a picturesque French countryside and castle. Unfortunately, the film’s monster possesses none of the redeeming qualities associated with the Beast from his fairy tale. He is a childish and aggressive partner who becomes kinder towards Laura stands by her, and protects her from the real monster her ex. The terrible roommate who initially frightens Laura, tries to wrest control of the thermostat and television set, and Later as soon as they get accustomed to her grieving for the loss of love, Monster wants them to leave in a hurry. Their relationship never has the smoothness that the source of their inspiration has.
Lindy’s story in which she describes how her long time boyfriend abandoned her during her cancer treatment is the same as this year’s previous attempt, Lisa Frankenstein, marketed with the tagline, A coming of RAGE love story. In the same fashion, it would appear that Your Monster has its foundations also in rage only this time Laura takes a lot of time to evolve towards the angle of fury.
Another savage betrayal is needed for Laura to pick herself off the floor she observes her husband wholly committed to his new leading lady, Jackie (Meghann Fahy). But through the aid of a horror movie monster the good girls in both films, Lisa Frankenstein and Your Monster, are able to mature give in to their worst inclinations, and yes finally release that built-up anger thanks to an atypical love interest. What I wouldn’t give for more fun with that in Your Monster though.
Thankfully, it is a pleasure to see Barrera back on stage after In the Heights. Still, the music in Your Monster was really missing one of those tunes that allow singer to show her real range. So even in home scenes with Dewey’s Monster, Ms. Barrera acts very exaggerated, which involves a lot of screeching and boohooing. You start to think that the latter paid absolutely no attention to plot consistency. It is quite anticlimactic when at last Laura decides to act surprised at how the Monster goes about his dirty business. It is almost weird to watch her bloodthirst without ever being in key even when doling out sweet payback on a terrible boyfriend which most people could scarcely conceive.
She is not exactly out for revenge rather it would seem all that she is doing is seeking to get back into his good graces until she realizes those graces are not worth the fight.
Your Monster is something of a peculiar beast in that it has the ingredients that could allow it to be a crowd pleaser but at times these same elements were the ones that made me look forward to when the credits would roll. Its clumsy and rather exaggerated take on breakups and bad exes may give some revenge satisfaction, but the hero, the main character, does not put his heart into it. There are however only a handful of moments when the concept promises exciting ideas but the execution feels almost dull and uninspired. Once Laura embraces this lifestyle, I expect Jacob to reprise the role of a one dimensional Gaston who chooses to marry multiple different prizes and for that, he should have his comeuppance of various hairy suitors come in handy in such instances. There are times when Your Monster manages to raise the bar but not enough so that the film’s duration would fit.
For More Movie Like Your Monster on 123Movies
