Men In Black II
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
Written by:
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Patrick Warburton, Rip Torn, Lara Flynn Boyle

There was good reason to have faith in Men In BlackII. It has been long enough for the general public toassume that the creators of the hugely successful 1997film would have taken their time to ensure that anysequel would live up to and possibly surpass theoriginal.

But how soon we forget that since the original,director Barry Sonnenfeld has given us Wild Wild Westand Big Trouble, both loathed by critics andmoviegoers alike, and death at the box office.

Men in Black II, bluntly, is a pointless film thatfails to deliver excitement or laughter. Much likethe disaster that was Wild Wild West, the team behindthe film finds it more important to focus on theeffects and gadgetry than the clever wit and chemistryof Jones/Smith that drove the first film.

I cant necessarily tell you what happens in thismovie, as the plot of whats behind the earthsimpending destruction was left unclear, and the enemyis a very inept team of Lara Flynn Boyle and Johnny”Jackass” Knoxville. Neither are very threatening,interesting, or funny, but simply a vehicle to displayextra heads and tenticles that extend from theirbodies.

The laughs just aren’t there in this film. The humorhas been watered down to Austin Powers type levels,pandering to the dumber section of the audience (WhoLet the Dogs Out jokes, etc.).

The only saving graces of MIB II are a few Jones/Smithexchanges, and cameos from Patrick “the Tick”Warburton , Tony Shalhoub, and Mr. Show’s David Cross. Jones is vastly underused in the movie, unexpectedly.

Overall, MIB II is a huge disappointment, and this iscoming from someone who has defended much loathedsequels such as Waynes World II and Bill and TedsBogus Journey. Taking a quick look around the ‘net,and I see I am not alone. Looks like within a fewyears MIB II will either be forgotten or yet anotherlesson to Hollywood about what not to do. — The Goon

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