Men in Black
Men in Black
James, an NYC cop, is hired by Agent K of a secret government agency that monitors extraterrestrial life on Earth. Together, they must recover an item that has been stolen by an intergalactic villain.
匚卂尺ㄥ reviewedFebruary 14, 2025
Men in Black is the rare breed of a sci-fi blockbuster that film audiences don’t really get the opportunity to see in cinemas anymore…
Men in Black possesses a winning combination of movie magic elements, from compelling sci-fi themes to stunning special effects to laugh-out-loud humour that keeps the viewer fixated on the fun plot brimming with clever visuals!
An upbeat, memorable score by Danny Elfman starts the film in the right direction, while Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones’ comedic chemistry fits superbly with their tremendously contrasting personalities (amusingly settling into the good cop/bad cop routine with an extraterrestrial sensibility).
Perfectly timed one-liners and gobs of sarcasm pile up around imaginative weapons, quaint supporting roles, and a hysterical memory-erasing device that never gets old!
What makes this wildly imaginative setup so much fun is the hilarious mix between the deadpan gruffness of Tommy Lee Jones and the charismatic and energetic personality of Will Smith!
Choosing to go the route of puppets and primarily practical effects, Men in Black’s look remains striking, even after years of advancing computer graphics.
Take note Hollywood!
Though hearty laughs are the first goal of the film, the science-fiction atmosphere and imagery are greatly conducive to the cynicism and wit that fuel the script.
The verbal gags never cease, nor does the action and adventure.
But what makes this project even more delightfully uncommon is that it never relies on jokes or gimmicks to replace character development and heart, components often sacrificed in favour of wild visuals and elaborate concepts, especially when it comes to fledgling space operas. Take note Hollywood!
Despite a silly end title rap by Smith himself, Men in Black is a monumentally entertaining, one-of-a-kind experience that went on to receive several Oscar nominations (a rare feat for sci-fi) as well as the Oscar for Best Makeup!
Men in Black, running in at a breezy 98 minutes, is a showpiece of how to take something so simple and make it fantastic!
It’s quick, eccentric and deadly funny and fit’s likely to be a close encounter you’ll want to see a second and third time…