Fun Entertainment

Rating: Null/10 (20 May 2012)

Men in Black (1997)
*** (out of 4)
Good mix of comedy, science fiction and action has NYC police officer (Will Smith) recruited into a secret agency that tracks alien life form on Earth. Soon he and his partner (Tommy Lee Jones) have the biggest battle imaginable as the fate of the Earth is at risk due to an alien bug. MEN IN BLACK is far from a classic but I think there's enough imagination here for two movies and there's no question that the leads share some terrific chemistry and that alone makes the film worth watching. Again, you're life isn't going to change by watching this movie but not everything should try to be an Oscar-winning drama. There's no doubt that this is a popcorn flick but what a good one it is. I think the greatest thing the film has going for it are the two leads. These two actors are so different that it was just perfect bringing them together. Jones has no problems playing it straight while Smith can go over-the-top and silly without becoming annoying. You put the two together and they perfectly blend and really make the film what it is. Linda Fiorentino is good in her supporting bit as is Vincent D'Onofrio as the mutant trying to take over the world. The special effects in the film certainly don't hold up as well today compared to more modern CGI flicks but they're still quite nice. The imagination in the various aliens is very impressive as are some of the gadgets including the one that erases memory. MEN IN BLACK doesn't try to do anything too special except deliver a good time and it does that just fine.