Men in Black: International is a 2019 sci-fi comedy about a new team out to tackle their biggest threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.
If there was ever a movie that feels out of place and entirely out of sync, this might be it, a reboot-ish sort of film that knows its roots but not its originator’s appeal. That’s not to say all is lost in F. Gary Gray‘s latest entry in the already closed trilogy, but Men in Black: International is entirely without the joy that made the first so entertaining, and tries half-heartedly to sap more out of a franchise that not only feels closed already, but out of ideas well before this one.
Molly (Tessa Thompson) knows a thing or two, mostly that we are not alone in the universe. As a kid, she saw those mysterious Men in Black and avoided their “flashy-thing” memory eraser, since then wanting to get answers and be part of the team. Figuring out on her own where the Men in Black are hiding, she manages to get the attention of Agent O (Emma Thompson), who believes there’s something special about the young woman. She’s given a try and sent to London where she pairs up with Agent H (Chris Hemsworth), a sort of rebellious type with some notoriety. High T (Liam Neeson) doles out assignments, with the team’s first job protecting a dignitary going terribly wrong. Soon enough they are neck deep in plot that could take down the organization itself.
There’s no hiding that fact that a lot of this is a reworking of the now two decades’ old first film, with the gender switch feeling timely and even refreshing. Tessa Thompson is effortlessly fun to watch, and the repairing of her and Hemsworth after their work with Marvel is a casting coup. They are fun and funny, clearly having a good time on set. That turns out to be good for us too since that chemistry is crucial in giving this some much needed umph.
The thing about the first Men in Black was its clever mix of practical effects and CGI, the low-fi look and approach lending the film just about all of its charm (Will Smith all the rest). But like everything that comes in sequels in Hollywood, the general thinking is bigger be better, and so, Men in Black: International follows suit with two already in the bin, bloating the screen with a George Lucas-esque take to it all, computer-generated creatures and what-nots overwhelming to say the least. But that’s nitkpicky. They do look great and a few are fun to see in action, but hardly any have impact or significance (though judos to Kumail Nanjiani for the good voicework of Pawny, the film’s most funny little alien).
The bigger problem is that the movie forgets its plot by dealing in distraction rather than story. The whole thing has no teeth, these loaded characters never given any larger presence than their introductions, their considerable charms helping a lot in sustaining interest but unable to make this memorable. It works hard to be energetic but it’s almost surprising how lowkey it all is, which feels justifiably disappointing considering the potential. You get what Gray is after and the studio’s intent, however Men in Black: International misses the point of the original’s personality-driven hit, mistaking fan service as a bankable enterprise and never once bringing the wonder a project like this desperately needs. Too bad, because if there is a series out there worthy of a comeback, it’s this.