Men In Black: Critic Reviews

Every time the film makes you chuckle, you may also feel it's zapped you with a neuralizer.

The film's technical team reflects exceptional stylistic harmony.

It's just the best yuk of the week.

Based on an obscure comic book series by Lowell Cunningham, this cheerfully perverse movie could just as easily have come directly from the text of a supermarket tabloid.

Men in Black continues this summer's tradition, already established by Con Air and Batman and Robin, of big-budget action pictures that at least have the wit to know how silly they are.

...thanks to Solomon's sparkling dialogue, Sonnenfeld's graceful economy, and a steady visual inventiveness, Men in Black takes the radical step of assuming that its audience is hip and smart, and it shines with that generous act of complicity.

As ragged as the humor is, there still are more hits than misses.

A wild knuckleball of a movie that keeps dancing in and out of the strike zone.

The result is a rich picture with a winning personality, as modest in theme as it is in style.

For a picture being sold as a big-budget special-effects comedy, Men in Black is surprisingly, pleasingly modest.

The smartest, funniest, and best-looking sci-fi comedy since the movies learned to morph.

Those accepting Men in Black for what it is will likely agree that this is one of 1997's more satisfying big-budget offerings.

To quote the film's wisest alien, who just happens to be occupying the body of an ugly-ass pug dog, 'You don't like it, you can kiss my furry little butt.'

Though its charm is in its attitude and premise (and Danny Elfman's rousing score), Men in Black does have a serviceable plot that kicks in when a rusty flying saucer crash-lands in a rural area.

Lots of fun, but too scary for some kids.

What is it about the black suit/black tie/white shirt get-up in movies?

What [it] lacks in depth, it makes up for with an infectious childlike enthusiasm for its zany premise.

Ultimately, this film isn't quite as screamingly funny as its coming attractions trailer suggested, but it is an amiable enough piece of entertainment.

Combines the talents of Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and director Barry Sonnenfeld to hilarious, endearing effect.

Just a collection of sketches in which Jones and Smith run into farcical E.T.s.

Cool hot-weather fun -- this will be the one to beat right through the dog days of summer.

Will Smith, the only spark of life in Independence Day, now is allowed to shine in brighter, smarter material.

It's so much fun, in fact, that it's almost over before you realise that you've been watching a great idea for a movie in desperate search of a plot.

A solid, entertaining, intelligent, and funny entry into the annals of this summer's moviegoing selection.

A fun movie.