Better than the original

Rating: Null/10 (26 June 2002)

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones put on their black suits and shades to save the Earth once again. This time round, the alien scum is in the shapely form of the lusciously leather-clad Lara Flynn Boyle, playing lizard-cum-lingerie-model, Serleena. She's searching for the ... and that's all you need to know about the plot!
What separates Men in Black II from most sequels (purely money-making exercises, all of 'em!) is that it's at least as good, oftentimes better, than the original film.
Smith and Jones make an excellent double-act and here they are in top form. Each actor is also given enough solo scenes and material to establish their own individual comedic strengths. Barry Sonnenfeld's direction is snappy, the computer effects seamless and there are a great many excellent sight gags and smart one-liners in Robert Gordon and Barry Fanaro's script.
The film's opening sequence, a cheesy mysteries-of-the-Universe tv show, shows the filmmakers have their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks. That's as in mouth! And that's where they stay for the rest of the film.
Yeah, I know, it's all individual taste, but, for me, the first Men in Black was a great idea which didn't live up to its premise. It had too many flat spots, became just another generic Hollywood big budget movie and, for a comedy, had far too many unforgivably unfunny patches.
Men in Black II has learnt its lessons, least of which is the two main characters don't get buried by computer animation and can flex their personalities. Purists will prefer the original. But anyone wanting to sit back and enjoy a good laugh from what is the best of the summer blockbusters so far will get a very good entertainment return for their investment.
A sequel is probably already in the works!