Jane Fonda stars as the title beast, a former TV star recovering from a breakdown who’s so miffed at the idea of her only son (Michael Vartan) marrying a temp (Jennifer Lopez) that she conspires to scare the young woman off. It’s nervy of Fonda to play such an unsympathetic, self-absorbed characterand one who looks her agebut this comedy surrounds her with so many predigested characters and sitcom cliches that it seldom takes off, despite the presence of Lopez and Wanda Sykes and a cameo by Elaine Stritch. Robert Luketic directed a script by Anya Kochoff. PG-13, 95 min. (JR)