Men In Black II: Review By Bawnian©-Dexeus

Men In Black II is a 2002 sci-fi adventure movie.

Directed by: Barry Sonnefeld

Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Rip Torn, Lara Flynn Boyle, Johnny Knoxville, Rosario Dawson and Tony Shalhoub.

When making a series to a new product, you have to remember to always try to create a second version that is on par with the first model or better. Sadly, for MIB-II, it's not the case. A decade ago, I enjoyed it when I went to see it in theaters, but when you see it now, the quality is gone, once viewed with different eyes. Basically, the writers decided to cope the first movie, event for event but with a new artifact, role reversals, and an underwhelming villain who should have stayed in the kitchen making the MIB sandwiches.

Agent J (Will Smith) returns as a senior MIB agent taking care of New York (a roach infested cesspool of aliens, among other things) from threats disturbing the peace. But, with each new partners not syncing correctly with his style, the services of Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) are once again required to stop Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle) from stealing the light of the universe (like Orion's Belt) and controlling all galaxies and such. Problem is, K was neuralized and efforts to bring back his memories to save all worlds is basically the weight of the plot.

It really is the only major element to this construct that crippled the interest of the critics and the fans of the first movie. Sure, when I saw it the first time, I could tell it was the same rehashed plot, but I simply wanted to be entertained, and I was, but only once. Watching the first MIB, the jokes still hold up. Even if Tommy was acting like the oblivious mailman, he almost seemed uninterested. That, or the man has the most epic poker face on the planet. Now, the role reversal was interesting, but even as a former newbie, they made Smith's character feel like the apprentice, but as the old saying, "You got a lot to learn, kid". Serleena had nothing menacing at either times I viewed the sequel. Cute, is all I can say, for an actress playing a Victoria Secret model. She looked better as Monica Mancuso, for even the, she was a more menacing carp than in this. The only elements that were watchable, were the still disgusting midget aliens and their coffee, the puppy, and Smith's charisma and trademark performance.

Overall, a success at the box office, but not in the ranks of the first or with the viewers.

Written by: Bawnian©-Dexeus.