Laura is going through a rough breakup. Her long-term boyfriend Jacob not only left her but did so while she was in the middle of cancer treatment. He claimed he couldn't handle being her caretaker and just walked away, leaving her in tears, with her stuff sent to her mom's place, and even took her off the list for auditions for his new show that she helped create. Her pushy friend Mazie swoops in to take her home and give her some time to heal. One stormy night, Laura encounters a monstrous creature known as Monster, who has been lurking in her mom's closet and the shadows of their home for years, only coming out occasionally. But Monster isn’t thrilled about Laura being back, and the two reluctant housemates have a tough time finding a way to coexist until Laura decides to audition for Jacob's show. With Monster's help, she aims to show that she’s not someone to mess with. It’s a cute concept, but the film by Caroline Lindy doesn’t quite hit the mark. "Your Monster" feels like a mix of "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Chorus Line," taking our heartbroken singer through the harsh realities of the musical theater scene instead of a picturesque French setting. The monster in this story doesn’t really go through the same redemptive journey as the Beast from the fairy tale. Instead, he comes off as a whiny, difficult roommate who eventually warms up to Laura, supports her, and stands up to the real villain: her ex. Monster starts as the worst roommate imaginable, scaring Laura when she least expects it, bickering over the thermostat and TV, and wanting her to leave almost as soon as she arrives to process her heartbreak. Their relationship never quite reaches the satisfying depth of its inspiration.
The story draws from Lindy's real-life experience of being dumped by a long-term boyfriend during her cancer treatment. It shares some similarities with this year's earlier film, "Lisa Frankenstein," which called itself "A coming of RAGE love story." Like that film, "Your Monster" is also fueled by rage, but Laura takes her sweet time getting there. It’s not until she catches Jacob with his new girlfriend, Jackie, that she finally stops crying and starts to stand up for herself. With the help of a horror movie monster, both "Lisa Frankenstein" and "Your Monster" show how the good girls can evolve, embrace their darker sides, and unleash that pent-up rage with the aid of an unconventional romantic partner. I just wish "Your Monster" had a bit more fun exploring that concept. While it’s awesome to see Barrera back in the spotlight after "In the Heights," the songs in "Your Monster" don’t quite have that show-stopping flair that would let her showcase her vocal range. Even in the scenes with Dewey's Monster at home, Barrera's performance feels a bit exaggerated, filled with lots of screaming and big, tearful moments. This tonal inconsistency is also present in the story. When Laura finally taps into her rage while watching Monster take care of business, it feels a bit muted. Her thirst for revenge seems almost off-key, even when she gets back at a terrible ex in a way most of us can only dream of. She’s not really out for revenge; she’s more focused on trying to win him back until she realizes he’s not worth it. "Your Monster," can be streamed on Hura Watch Movies, is a bit of a mixed bag. It has all the right ingredients to be a hit, but sometimes those same elements made me wish the credits would roll sooner. Its uneven and heavy-handed take on breakups and bad exes might scratch that revenge itch, but the main character doesn’t seem fully invested. While the idea feels fresh, the way it’s executed is pretty predictable. When Laura takes this route, it's clear that Jacob will act like a heartless Gaston, carelessly tossing her aside for someone new, and he definitely deserves some consequences, maybe from a certain furry admirer. Every now and then, "Your Monster" shows a bit of potential, but it just doesn't have what it takes to stay engaging throughout the whole runtime.
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