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DOWN IN FRONT: Men in Black II
Once again it is up to cosmic odd couple Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith to save the world from extra terrestrials gone amok in New York City in "Men In Black II."
They are the Men In Black, a secret government agency that monitors alien activity on Earth. In this installment, a many-tentacled, shape-shifting alien disguised as a Victoria's Secret model (Lara Flynn Boyle) is searching for an alien doohickey called "the light" that was left on Earth in 1978, and she is wreaking havoc among the city's alien population in the process.
The problem, it turns out, is that Smith needs the help of the now retired Agent Kay (Jones) who has no memory of his work with the Men In Black because it was erased at the end of the first movie.
This movie is a lot of fun. It's fast-paced and clever, and unlike "Star Wars" manages to combine spectacular special effects with good dialogue. The audience laughed out loud in several places, and there were also a few groans prompted by alien grossness.
As in the first one, the best performance comes from Tommy Lee Jones whose weathered face communicates volumes as he patiently listens to fast-talking sidekick Smith. Jones wins arguments without even opening his mouth as Smith talks himself deeper and deeper into a hole.
| DAN’S GRADE: B+ A: MUST SEE B: WORTH WATCHING C: RENT IT D: POOR F: WICKED BAD |
However, the real stars of the film are the new alien creations. These are not merely computer animated monsters and guys walking around in rubber suits but surprising inventions like an entire society living in a train station locker and a planet no bigger than a bowling ball.
The movie is on the short side, and I know some people want at least two hours of entertainment (not to mention air conditioning) for their seven bucks. The only other thing to detract from enjoyment of the film is the intensity of the advertising blitz, which included TV spots, magazine articles and a purely "journalistic" interview with Will Smith on the Today Show. Too much hype makes you feel a bit like a sheep going into the theater.
However, when it comes to mindless summer entertainment, the Men In Black are up to the challenge.