Fun is the best way to describe this film. Forget all of the fancy visual effects and modern dialog, because this one owes a great deal to classic action comedies where the key to the film's success was the relationship between the central buddies. Tommy Lee Jones's Agent K and Will Smith's Agent J are among the best screen buddies of recent years.
The story follows the secret government agency called the Men in Black, which protects space aliens living on Earth and keeps the knowledge of their existence from the general population. James Edwards (Will Smith, ALI, INDEPENDENCE DAY) is recruited to join the agency, but the ultra serious Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones, THE FUGITIVE, BLUE SKY) doesn't think the brash rookie has what it takes. The plot follows Agent K and the newly named Agent J as they attempt to stop a killer alien bug, which disguises itself as a farmer named Edgar (Vincent D'Onofrio, ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING), from destroying a galaxy, which would lead to the destruction of Earth.
The relationship between Agent K and Agent J is the true key to the success of the film. The aliens and events are funny, but it’s the funny man/straight man act between Jones and Smith that really captures the audience's attention. BAD BOYS set Smith up as a movie star. INDEPENDENCE DAY solidified it. MEN IN BLACK made him a biggest movie star in the world. His famous line "I make this look good" is fitting for sure. But one shouldn't down play how good Jones is. His deadpan approach is perfect for the stuff-shirt character and can be just as funny has Smith's sarcasm. In addition, D'Onofrio's over-the-top body tics for his possessed human could impress a contortionist. It's bizarre, yet perfectly fitting for the otherworldly and humorous quality of the aliens. And one shouldn't forget Rip Torn's funny matter-of-fact performance as Men in Black head, Chief Zed.
The pacing is fast, the humor is fun, the production value is top notch and the acting is great. I was not familiar with Lowell Cunningham's comic before the movie, but now I want to be. Director Barry Sonnenfeld (GET SHORTY) and writer Ed Solomon (BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE) have done an excellent job bringing it to the screen. Too bad I've heard so many bad things about the sequel because this could have been a franchise worth investing in.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
