Will & Tommy

Rating: 9/10 (12 April 2004)

After the success of "Independence Day", Will Smith tackled another science fiction film though less serious than the previous one. Will is Agent Jay, recruited by Agent Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) to be his partner and replacement from the NYPD and in their first adventure together they smite an evil, annoying alien bug played by Vincent D'Onofrio.
Based on a cult comic book, "Men In Black" was followed by an animated series and a sequel which brought back Agent Kay but used a terrible story to do it.
The big reason this movie works is because Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones work so well together as the cocky youth and the experienced veteran, and they're chemistry is what made this film a hit. Some of the gags are great, others a tad predictable. Sadly, the sequel allowed them to slack and did not push them hard enough to actually work. Linda Fiorentino is nice eye candy, but Vincent D'Onofrio is never really evil or menacing as the obnoxious alien man bug Edgar, just annoying and smug. As a result of D'Onofrio's undisciplined performance, the film is mildly irritating whenever he's on screen, sucking the joy out of it.
But all in all, this one's pretty good. Will's song is actually rather catchy.