The major problem with Men In Black: International is that it doesn’t make a strong case for existing. It wasn’t like moviegoers were clamoring for a return to the franchise that began successfully back in 1997 thanks to its clever premise and offbeat chemistry of its stars, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. The 2002 sequel wasn’t nearly as good, but it got mileage from reversing the roles of the leads a bit by having Smith trying to educate Jones, who has lost his memory. A lot of it seemed like it was left on the cutting room floor, but Smith and Jones remained a highlight. The third film, released in 2012, could’ve easily felt tired but casting Josh Brolin as a young Tommy Lee Jones made for a fun union between Brolin and Smith. Honestly, the third film succeeds because it really had no reason to exist, and yet it was better than most anticipated. There was a finality with Men In Black 3, and it didn’t leave the impression that we would revisit this universe anytime soon.
Men In Black: International is a misguided attempt to revamp the brand without bringing back the key ingredients that made these films work in the first place. It’s not just the sci-fi action, and off the wall alien characters, it’s the chemistry of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones that is the heartbeat of these films. On paper, Christ Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson seem like good ideas to build a new franchise around, given their chemistry in Thor: Ragnarok but it’s clear that the plan to cast them didn’t include anything interesting for them to do. When Men In Black: International does work, it’s solely because of Hemsworth and Thompson, but they really can’t do all of the heavy lifting. Thompson is a capable actress, and Hemsworth has proven to be more than just a handsome face, but despite their Marvel box office success, it doesn’t translate to enough to get this film off the ground.
Men In Black: International takes place in the same universe as the other films, but the only returning cast member is Emma Thompson (Agent O) in a minimal role. There is no trace of Will Smith or Tommy Lee Jones unless you count the likeness of Smith on a painting. We are introduced to a new set of agents. The agents in question are Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) and Agent M (Tessa Thompson), the former of which is an agent that has moved up the ranks due to the guidance of Agent High T (Liam Neeson). Agent M had stumbled upon the Men In Black because when she was a kid, her family had an encounter with an alien and the secret agents but while they erased the memories of her parents, they failed to erase hers. Since Agent M has proven worthy by finding their headquarters, they let her on as an agent on a probationary basis and pair her with Agent H. The mission at hand takes them to London to stop an invasion from The Hive. To prevent it, they have to use the ultimate weapon that is in their possession, but their plans are always hampered by a mole within the agency.
One of the glaring flaws of the film is that director F. Gary Gray, who is so very talented when he’s not trying to make a studio film, doesn’t update the brand in a significant way. Some might call this a throwback, but everything about this film feels dated. With a budget of $110 million, most of that must’ve gone to paying Hemsworth and company because the special effects and alien character designs are dull. It is especially true of the big creature reveal at the end, which looks embarrassingly cheap. The action is suitable enough, but none of it breaks any new ground. It gets you from point A to point B, and it rarely raises the pulse. The only character design that does work is Pawny (voice provided by Kumail Nanjiani), a thumb-sized alien that pairs with Agent M as her sidekick. Thanks to some strong voice acting by Nanjiiani, the character happens to be the most lively in the film.
It’s not to say that Hemsworth and Thompson are bad. Thompson, in particular, shows signs that she could carry a big film on her own if given better material. The duo is saddled with stupid things to do and their magic from Thor: Ragnarok, never entirely comes through here. Hemsworth is naturally funny and charming, and some of that is on display here, but he’s also overcompensating for a script that never takes off. Reportedly, the film underwent constant rewrites, with the performers getting new pages on the day of shooting, and it shows. The film lacks a clear focus and I can’t tell if it wants to be an homage to the original franchise or stand on its own two feet.
In a summer of sequels that has seen several big studio films underperform, Men In Black: International is sadly added to that list. Sony Pictures should’ve rebooted this franchise if a fresh idea presented itself and not because it had two attractive leads at their whim. We are long over the days where star power generates box office interest. Oddly enough, it certainly did when “Big Willie” was breaking out in 1997 with the first film. It’s just a different time now, and two big names above the title aren’t enough to build a movie around. Men In Black: International needed to be fresh and new, but the result is old and tired.
