Charlie (Jennifer Lopez) is dating Kevin, the man of her dreams (Michael Vartan). Their life promises to be a fairy tale until she meets his mother. Viola Fields (Jane Fonda) is a popular TV personality whose life begins falling apart after she is replaced as a talk show host. Kevin introduces Charlie to his mother (post-nervous breakdown) and unexpectedly proposes, inciting a fear in Viola that she will lose her surgeon son as quickly as she lost her career. Eager to prevent that from happening, Viola hatches a plan to drive Charlie out of her mind and push her to call off the wedding. But, Charlie discovers Viola's scheme, and proves to her fiance's mother that she can play just as dirty.