According to The Hollywood Reporter, two comedies aimed at slightly different audiences debuted solidly in about 3,400 theaters apiece in North America this weekend and captured the top two slots at the boxoffice, but it wasn't enough to end what is now a 12-week b.o. slump -- the third-longest down streak since 1983.

Walking down the aisle in its debut session, New Line Cinema's Monster-in-Law -- starring Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda -- took the top spot with a better-than-expected opening of about $24 million. The debut for the PG-13-rated romantic comedy proved to be a personal best for Lopez, topping the $18.7 million of Sony's Maid in Manhattan, also a romantic comedy and playing largely to young females.

Universal's Kicking & Screaming, a PG-rated comedy starring Will Ferrell as a soccer-coaching dad, attracted mostly families and kids and scored in the second spot with an estimated $20.9 million. It marked Ferrell's third-best opening, behind New Line's Elf ($31.1 million) and DreamWorks' Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy ($28.4 million).

Altogether, there were four wide releases this weekend, with the two other films R-rated action-thrillers.

Dont't forget to also check out: Monster-in-Law