Men in Black: International

Men in Black: International is, more than any other film released this year, the pinnacle of “down-the-middle,” neither good nor bad, storytelling in 2019. It is a movie that simply exists and is there. It features plenty of moments of fun and enjoyment as well as plenty of moments of laziness and mediocrity. Luckily, Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson try their damnedest to bring some levity and energy to the final product and often succeed. For the most part, the film falls on two fronts: It doesn’t succeed in revitalizing the beloved sci-fi franchise it is a part of, but it doesn’t tarnish it either by any stretch of the imagination. Men in Black: International is simply another entry in the franchise, nothing more, nothing less.

After witnessing firsthand the secret government and extraterrestrial organization Men in Black, or MIB, mind-wipe her parents after they discovered an alien species, Molly (Tessa Thompson) makes it her life mission to track down and find the enigmatic organization. 20 years later, she succeeds and, impressed with her cleverness and persistence, Agent O (Emma Thompson), head of the US Division of MIB, recruits Molly as Agent M and assigns her to the London division. There, she meets and is paired with Agent H (Chris Hemsworth), a once prestigious and well-respected agent who has since fallen from grace through arrogance and incompetence after an encounter with the Hive, an extraterrestrial threat, several years back. After a series of alien killings, Agents M and H come across a weapon of unimaginable firepower and must work to keep it from the wrong hands, one of which may be hiding within MIB itself.

Much of the film feels very reminiscent of the original 1997 Men in Black, but not in the way of nostalgia and fond memories. Imagine if the original was plucked from 1997, then polished with shiny new effects and a younger acting duo, and you get Men in Black International. Except as it was being polished, much of what made the original as special and enjoyable as it was got washed down the drain. The charm and intrigue that existed in the first film, especially between Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, isn’t as fruitful or noticeable in this entry.

But that’s not to say it completely tarnishes the film as a whole. It merely keeps the film from being something better. Because it feels reminiscent of its 1997 predecessor, it often feels as though it’s trying to be like the original, like it somewhat thinks it’s back in the 90s. It’s not surprising then that the story feels that way, as it is laced with rushed plotlines, extremely predictable story threads you see coming light years away, and plot points that offer wasted potential. Take Agent M, for example. On the surface, her story arc would be really interesting to explore, a girl who’s the only person on earth to know of MIB’s existence and has a passion for the extraterrestrial and interstellar. However, that entire story thread and character arc is rushed during the first 20 minutes and is rarely mentioned again. After that, she’s an experienced agent who takes everything around her as if it’s normal and she understands it completely. It’s just one example of a story point that could’ve been explored further.

But none of those issues can be blamed on the actors since they give it all they got and often times succeed in making the film a lot more enjoyable than it should be. Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth having a particularly strong resume regarding their onscreen chemistry given their previous team up in Marvel’s Thor Ragnarok. In this entry, much of that chemistry remains intact as they consistently bicker and banter while also complimenting one another’s strengths, making for some much needed levity and energy. Thompson fills the role of the recently recruited newbie really well and her strong passion for the paranormal and extraterrestrial shines through while she successfully maintains a cool, collected composure at the same time. Hemsworth taps into his more comedic side in the role of Agent H and not once will you find him unlikable nor lacking charm. Much of his comedy is well timed and plays into his strengths of clever physical comedy and zany one-liners.

The rest of the cast are simply just there and most of them aren’t impressive. Liam Neeson barely gets anything to do as head of MIB London division High T as he is mostly left to sit behind his desk and provide exposition or help our lead heroes move along in the plot. Rafe Spall is given a campier role as the jealous fellow MIB agent C and doesn’t make much of an impression. The only supporting cast member who has a decent amount of involvement and is genuinely entertaining is Kumail Nanjiani as Pawny, a tiny alien soldier who submits his loyalty to Agent M, providing the majority of the funny and catchy one liners and comedic dialogue throughout.

One of the things most admirable about the world of Men in Black is the amount of ingenuity and variety in the aliens themselves, the gadgets, and locations. Whether a giant cockroach or the noisy cricket, the franchise has proven to be fairly imaginative and creative with tech and characters that inhabit this environment, and this entry definitely displays some of that creativity, including an automotive armory and a gun powered by a star, but it’s not as strong and memorable as in previous entries. Given that this film involves a bit of globetrotting, it’s sometimes refreshing to see our heroes travel the world as they attempt to traverse the extraterrestrial underbelly that spreads from Morocco to Italy to Paris.

Overall, Men in Black: International is nothing but another entry in a franchise that deserved better. It’s a project that offers nothing new to the series nor is it a detriment to it either. It relies a lot on the story points and characteristics of its predecessor and doesn’t provide anything new to the table as far as where the franchise goes. But at the same time, Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson ensure that the film is far from an unwatchable mess. If anything, I would definitely by supportive of another entry with the both of them, however unlikely that is. It is their chemistry as well as various other enjoyable elements that keep the film barely afloat. At that end, it’s safe to say it’s nothing but a harmless little inclusion in the series, which isn’t a bad thing, but not good either. It’s just OK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV-WEb2oxLk&t=1s&w=585