An unforgettable 90s science fiction comedy icon

Rating: 8/10 (8 May 2020)

The Earth is an intergalactic asylum since 60s where thousands of aliens in many species live their lives secretly disguising themselves as human forms. It is possible only when an agency is dealing with troubles sometimes caused by the alians and keeping everything secret. That agency is called Men in Black.
The story begins when agent K, a poker-faced veteran agent played by Tommy Lee Jones, meets a streetsmart police officer played by Will Smith, who later becomes agent J. We learn the secret of the alien world as J learns from K. We walk into the MIB headquaters, where experts work with apparently advanced technology, with a sense of privilege that we get to know what the rest of the world don't.
The concept of aliens disguising humans is banal, but it still works when it comes to making comedy. The villain alien Bug, who killed a poor farmer and is wearing his skin for disguise, is funnier than horrible. Outstandingly played by Vincent D'Onofrio, we can see the Bug inside the form of a human when he is staggering, driving a car, talking with his head strangely twisted.
An important device for the plot is the memory-erasing neuralyzer, which is crucial to maintain the secrecy of their job. Erasing memory struck me as a very cruel thing, making they look like some kind of executioners. I felt I didn't really like them when they were using it without the slightest hesitation, but later I found the humane side of the device. And it makes the plot emotionally meaningful.
Designs of aliens and machines are of what we see in typical space operas, in other words, of what children would draw on their notebooks. It's not a flaw for a science fiction comedy, making it easy for us to be familiar with. What stands out is the image of the buddy of Jones and Smith, wearing black sunglasses and black suits, strolling on streets in New York city. It's an unforgettable 90s science fiction comedy icon.