Men in Black: International is the fourth movie in the Men in Black franchise, which started in 1997 with the release of the original film. The movie is directed by F. Gary Gary, who is most well known for his work on The Italian Job (2003), Law Abiding Citizen (2009), and Straight Outta Compton (2015). Like the previous movies, Men in Black: International tells the story of two secret agents who belong to a mysterious organization that deals with alien threats and other cosmic oddities. By mixing action, comedy, and a big dose of sci-fi, Men in Black: International looks to create a faithful story that lives up to the notable success of its predecessors. Like most modern-day sequels and spin-offs, Men in Black: International falters in some places but succeeds in others. Let’s see if Men in Black: International is worth the trip to the theater, or if this is a film you should have erased from your memory.
Back in Black
Men in Black: International follows the story of Molly (Tessa Thompson), a technical support agent living in modern-day New York City. After witnessing both an alien and the Men in Black at a young age, Molly has spent her days searching for the truth of the universe. Her investigations lead her to the Men in Black headquarters, where she quickly proves her worth and becomes an agent on a probationary period. Her first assignment sees Molly traveling to London, where she encounters the cocky yet endearing Agent H (Chris Hemsworth). Along with the Men in Black London headquarters leader Agent High T (Liam Neeson), Agent H gained glory early in his career, as the duo saved the world from an alien attack. By repelling the invasive alien species known as the Hive, Agent H quickly became known as the best Agent in the business, and Molly becomes intent on getting close to him.
After a bit of mental coercion, Molly (now known only by her title, “Agent M”) convinces Agent H to let her tag along on his next mission. As the pair travel to a night club where aliens and humans alike run wild, things start to get complicated fast. Now in possession of a mysterious relic and with their trust in the Men in Black wavering, Agent M and Agent H embark on a wild adventure to seek out the truth.
Look Into the Light
Although Men in Black: International is similar in structure and tone to the original Men in Black films, the story it tells feels distinctly separate and unattached to them. There are a few callbacks to the classic 1997 movie, including some fan-favorite characters and references, but beyond that Men in Black: International distances itself from past characters and events. Luckily, the film manages to stand up on its own, with some interesting new gadgets, locations, and characters. The plot is both slightly predictable and consistently interesting, although it takes a while to get moving. Generally speaking, the narrative in Men in Black: International isn’t the greatest, but it’s far from bad.
A good portion of the movie’s success rests in the performances from Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth, who deliver believable and likable characters. Despite his iconic role as Thor in The Avengers franchise, Hemsworth is able to produce a meaningful and enjoyable character. The same can be said for Tessa Thompson, who delivers an equally enjoyable and sassy performance that I admired quite a bit. The pair have great chemistry on-screen together, and as their partnership slowly evolves into friendship, it feels organic and true. Both characters are given a decent bit of background and motivation, keeping them from feeling like hollow heroes.
The Threat from Above
In terms of development and motivation, the same cannot be said for the film’s antagonists. For a good chunk of the film, Agent M and Agent H must deal with two shape-shifting aliens with extraordinary powers. The pair seem to pop up every step of the way, attempting to steal the precious relic in the Agents’ possession. Although the two characters have some exceptionally cool powers and a colorful and commanding presence on-screen, they lack any true development. They are similar in style to most Marvel movie villains; visually exciting but underdeveloped and ultimately ineffective.
That said, there is a deeper mystery to Men in Black: International, and although I had the ending figured out pretty early in the film, the story still managed to surprise me along the way. A good portion of the movie is what you would expect from a Men in Black film. There are a lot of explosions, some cool weaponry, and plenty of neat aliens and world-building. However, it’s the characters and subversion of expectations that work out best in Men in Black: International, providing a predictable yet entertaining plot. All told, the plot itself is pretty by-the-numbers, but some smart storytelling keeps it from getting stale.
Should You Watch Men in Black: International?
For both newcomers to the franchise and long-time fans, Men in Black: International has something to keep you interested. While the entire film may be a bit mediocre when all is said and done, there are plenty of reasons to check it out. Between the solid performances from the two leads and the entertaining dialogue and action, Men in Black: International ends up being an enjoyable popcorn flick. It doesn’t live up to the original film, but neither did Men in Black 2 or the poorly-received Men in Black III. Men in Black: International succeeds by its own merits and manages to be both slightly nostalgic and refreshing. If you find yourself craving some goofy alien fun, Men in Black: International will have you covered. While it’s not the most effective movie of 2019, Men in Black: International is still an enjoyable film in its own right.
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Movie Rating: 3 stars.
Movie Rating Guide
1 Star = Unwatchable
2 Stars = Cannot Recommend
3 Stars = Great for the Fans
4 Stars = A Solid Movie
5 Stars = Must Own (DVD/Stream Download)
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