Completely unoriginal sequel.

Rating: Null/10 (3 December 2002)

4.5 out of 10
Director Barry Sonnenfeld's sequel to the popular Men in Black is a total retread, without a whit of originality. Will Smith once again stars as Agent Jay and this time he's got to bring back Agent Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) from retirement to help him find the Light of Zartha or the Earth will be destroyed. That's as far as it goes in terms of plot and as you can tell, it's not that different from its predecessor. The movie fails to explore its fun premise by extending new ideas, it's basically all formula, designed to ensure the masses will churn in their hard-earned cash. Consequently, boredom eventually sets in when you realize the movie almost never offers any surprises or fun ideas.
The movie isn't, however, a total bust. The opening, involving a giant alien worm, is an enjoyably wild sequence. Will Smith's performance is energetic and likeable and he does manage to squeeze off a few good laughs here and there. There are also a couple of genuinely fascinating concepts the movie introduces, such as the miniature globe that's actually another planet altogether and an alien race living in a train station locker that worships the keyholder as their god. And yes, the final scene is very cool, and makes a good set-up for another sequel. Let's just hope they follow through on it the next time.