"Put up your hands and all your flippers."

MEN IN BLACK (PG-13) 

Reviewed July 4, 1997 - Check out the Men In Black site.

With Will Smith's terrific alien-busting performance in last year's Independence Day, and Tommy Lee Jones' recent successes playing quirky but likeable authoritarian figures, Men in Black appears to be a perfect vehicle for bringing some genuine fun and excitement into this year's summer movie crop.  As Agent J and Agent K respectively, Smith and Jones play two top-secret government operatives (the Men in Black) whose continuing mission is to monitor the Earth's alien (as in extra-terrestrial) population, which heretofore has been kept secret from the human world.  Unfortunately, all is not well in the alien world, and Agents J and K eventually find themselves fighting to save the Earth from alien destruction.

Okay, let's talk about what's right in this movie.  Tommy Lee Jones is right.  Will Smith is right.  The one-liners are right.  Men in Black has a sense of humor, and the tongue-in-cheek aspects of the film are done very well.  This is, if nothing else, a campy, fun, and funny film--a happy achievement that the disastrous Mars Attacks! never managed.  For their parts, Smith and Jones come through as interesting and very watchable characters, as do the supporting cast of Rip Torn, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D'Onofrio, and the rest of those goofy aliens.  The bottom line: Men in Black *is* a likeable film.

Having said that, however, I should also say that Men in Black does have its weaker moments.  The first half of this film, which focuses on Will Smith's recruitment into MiB, as well as his dumbfounded amazement at the sight of aliens on Earth, is definitely a hilarious viewing experience.  Unfortunately, the second half of the film settles into a more typical save-the-planet alien-hunt mode, which though entertaining enough, is somewhat less interesting to watch.  Given the relatively short 90 minute runtime of MiB, director Barry Sonnenfeld could have taken a few extra minutes to flesh out the characters a bit more.  As is, the characters here are entertaining but one-dimensional, interesting but cartoonish.  Funny film?  Sure!  Great movie?  Nah...

Men in Black.  Protecting the Earth from the scum of the Universe.  No more, no less...

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

David Rogers gives this movie  stars: "Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, what more do you want?" (4/27/00)

Catherine gives this movie  stars: "I think that this was a great movie. The storyline was fantastic, it was really funny AND Will Smith was in it. How can you go wrong ??????" (12/3/99)

jessfrogy@prodigy.net gives this movie  stars: "The movie was really funny and the aleins were really cool but there wasnt much of a story there I realy liked the ending with the marbels" (8/19/99)

oscar_davidsc@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars. (1/20/99)

Zack Peters says: "I think the movie was awesome and real cool when they blasted alian guts over the policemen the policemen. And the part when the guy gets swallowed to get his gun. And then blows the alian to peices and gets his guts all over." (4/11/98)

Ashley gives this movie  stars: "Will Smith Is great in this movie! i also think he looked very good in this movie!" (4/10/98)

brett.winn@aol.com gives this movie  star: "The Movie BIT!!! Ulgy lookin' aliens through the whole movie but not only that there wasent much of a story 4 it, 2 bad theres not a negitave rating 4 this movie, lets just hope theres not a seaquil." (3/24/98)

David gives this movie  stars: "Good fun with good laughs from Will Smith but not as good as all the hype it had got. It was good but it was not by far the brest movie of '97. It was good fun and humerous with great gadgets and aliens full of suprises. Pretty good." (1/24/98)

macburbs@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "The movie Men In Black was da bomb its one of my fav movies most of the time if i watch a movie more than twice i cant watch it again but Men In Black i could watch it over and over and over and over i wish i had the movie that movie is do bomb and i think no body eles could play the part of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones." (12/16/97)

Sweety gives this movie  stars: "I thought the movie was really good in graphics, humor, and action. the only part I couldn't stand was the roaches, other wize the movie was great!" (11/22/97)

zackxu@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "I think the movie is good funny and action it was cool movie" (11/9/97)

jammoei@tm.net.my gives this movie  stars: "I think your movie is great! The way the monsters act, the way you and your partner joke even when it comes to trouble, it is great. I like your flash light, if there was one really one real flash light like that, wow! Well, continue saving the world, MiB!( Joke! )And good luck!" (10/13/97)

ducharme2@juno.com gives this movie  stars: "This movie in my opinion had one main flaw, it was far to short. Otherwise it was in the top three best movies of the summer. So far this is my favorite." (7/19/97)

Marsh@vail.com gives this movie  stars: "Men in Black was one of the best movies that I have ever seen, I think that a three star rating is a little harsh and that the whole movie was great, not just the first half. The part where they started to try and save the world made the movie even more interesting because it keeps the sense of humor and it has a great amount of action so that all people will enjoy the movie." (7/10/97)