The Further Adventures Of

Rating: 7/10 (26 July 2002)

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are back as (respectively) Agents `K' and `J,' to once again save the world and keep the universe in order, in `Men In Black II,' directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, a Sci-Fi/comedy/action film that confirms something we've all suspected for a long time-- that most of the people who work at the Post Office are really aliens in human form (and doesn't that go for the DMV, as well?). And rest assured, it all comes with plenty of alien activity and is served up with a healthy dose of wry humor and `new hotness.' In short, if you've seen the original and/or the trailers for this one, you end up getting exactly what you expect-- and you'll sleep better at night knowing that the Men in Black are out there keeping us safe.
Agent K has been `retired' for some time, but recent alien activity involving a particularly ruthless alien by the name of Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle) necessitates bringing K back into service, as it appears that Serleena is seeking something called the `Light of Zartha,' and if she succeeds in her quest it will spell disaster for the world. And buried in K's memory is information vital to the MIB effort to thwart Serleena. So J is dispatched to bring K back and deneuralize him, so together they can attempt to stave off the evil Serleena and save the world. It won't be easy, however, because Serleena is already a step ahead of them, and right out of the chute they encounter a couple of obstacles: A young woman named Laura Vasquez (Rosario Dawson) needs their help and protection because of something she's seen; and to get K back into action, J has to engage the help of Jack Jeebs (Tony Shalhoub), who demurs, afraid of `losing' his head again with K around. And that hurts. J prevails, however, and soon K is back in the last suit he'll ever own-- again.
Sonnenfeld relies heavily on the visual aspects of this one, which is wise in light of the fact that there is more by way of F/X available to him than story this time around. And he uses it all to great effect; the bottom line is, this movie is about one thing-- entertainment. And that's what you get. There's enough story to keep the audience involved, but it's nothing that's going to strain the brain cells. It may seem contradictory, but the originality and imagination Sonnenfeld employs here is nothing new-- it's there, but it's really just an extension of all that was generated in the original `Men In Black.' Still, it's used well, and Sonnenfeld keeps it all moving along at a brisk pace that keeps it fun and engaging. What really sells it, though, are the performances-- especially those of Smith and Jones.
Will Smith steps right back into his character with facility, and he has a natural charm and a charismatic screen presence that make him fun to watch. Smith draws heavily upon his own winning personality in bringing J to life, and he has the timing and a way of delivering his lines that make his character extremely personable. And that's exactly what a movie like this needs. This isn't a project that calls for any in-depth character analysis; still, Smith develops J enough to make him well rounded and credible-- and that's enough. It works. Most importantly, Smith holds his own with the F/X, and the lack of pretense in his performance is refreshing.
As K, Tommy Lee Jones gives Smith the perfect straight-man to play off of, and right from the beginning he so perfectly captures that lethargic Postal Worker countenance, giving new definition to the word `droll.' And while J be-bops around (or is that hip-hops?), you get the feeling that as soon as K is back, he's the guy in charge. And leading up to K's deneuralization, Jones does a good job of affecting a believable sense of hesitancy, of maintaining `observation' mode until he gets to the bottom of whatever it is that's going on with this `J' character. You can always depend on Jones to deliver, no matter what role he's playing, and he certainly does here. And the casting is inspired: Smith and Jones make a great team on screen.
Rip Torn is also perfect as MIB director Zed, the guy responsible for keeping tabs on all of this alien business. His character is inherently stereotypical, but Torn at least adds a personal touch and plays him quite well, putting some real life into his portrayal. It's a good performance inasmuch as Torn lends some zest and personality to a character that could have served little purpose other than that of being a vehicle by which to move the plot along. And it demonstrates how much a great character actor like Rip Torn can bring to any film.
Lara Flynn Boyle does a good job in the less-than-challenging role of Serleena, a character which affords her little opportunity to do more than look good and generate a sense of evil, both of which she succeeds in doing effectively. The main thing is, she manages to establish who Serleena is, which is pivotal to the success of the film.
The supporting cast includes Johnny Knoxville (Scrad/Charlie), Patrick Warburton (Agent T), Jack Kehler (Ben), David Cross (Newton) and Jeremy Howard (Bird Guy Postal Sorting Alien). Like the man said, `There's nothing new under the sun,' which is certainly the case with `Men In Black II,' which in essence is a continuation of the original, a kind of `Further Adventures Of' the MIB. But it's well done, fun and entertaining-- it's a kick just being able to spend some more time with these guys. And if you're a fan of the original and you go into this one expecting more of the same, rather than hoping to be dazzled by something entirely new, it'll be a satisfying, worthwhile experience. 7/10.