Men in Black

Based on a Marvel comic book, Men in Black follows two agents (Tommy Lee Jones’ Kay and Will Smith’s Jay) as they attempt to stop an intergalactic terrorist (Vincent D’Onofrio’s Edgar) from absconding with a mysterious (and powerful) energy source. Director Barry Sonnenfeld has infused Men in Black with a brisk and playful sensibility that immediately captures the viewer’s interest, with the effectiveness of the movie’s propulsive, engrossing opening half hour heightened by the chemistry between Jones and Smith’s respective characters. There’s little doubt, then, that Men in Black fares best in its early stages, as the film benefits substantially from the initial emphasis on Jay’s introduction to the title organization (ie there’s a certain fish-out-of-water feel to this stretch that proves impossible to resist). It’s only as the movie segues into its comparatively lackluster midsection that one’s enthusiasm begins to flag, with scripter Ed Solomon’s decision to stress Jay and Kay’s ongoing investigation lending the proceedings a decidedly stagnant feel (ie it’s almost Law and Order-esque in its execution). The persistently energetic nature of Sonnenfeld’s direction, coupled with Jones and Smith’s strong performances, ensures that the movie generally remains watchable from start to finish, and it’s also worth noting that the whole thing does pick up demonstrably with its engaging save-the-world finale – which ultimately confirms Men in Black‘s place as an affable (yet somewhat forgettable) bit of escapist entertainment.

**1/2 out of ****