Another day, another belated sequel. And though Men in
Black International only comes seven years after the last entry, it makes
the disastrous mistake of not including a mainstay that made the original three
films work: Will Smith. Without the likable character of Agent J at the
forefront, and a severe lack of originality, or any reason to exist for that
matter, the summer of mediocre blockbusters continues.
The Men in Black have expanded to cover the globe but so
have the villains of the universe. To keep everyone safe, decorated Agent H
(Chris Hemsworth) and determined rookie M (Tessa Thompson) join forces -- an
unlikely pairing that just might work. When aliens that can take the form of
any human arrive on Earth, H and M embark on a globe-trotting adventure to save
the agency -- and ultimately the world -- from their mischievous plans.

But they don’t even get an average screenplay. The plot for Men
in Black International is about as bland and predictable as it gets,
sacrificing anything unique or fun for a focus on hopping around the globe or
nonsensical spectacle instead. At no point does it attempt to build any sort of
character for either Hemsworth or Thompson, relying entirely on what the
filmmakers clearly think is witty dialogue or good comedy.
Even the potential enjoyment of revisiting the world of the
franchise completely falls flat. Where the previous films may have relied on
practical effects or makeup to work in various alien species, the newest film
ditches all of it for an overabundance of CGI. And yes, CGI can be effective,
but in this instance, it makes the whole film feel hollow, a lite version of Men
in Black that is devoid of anything that was likable about the original
films.
Men in Black International certainly struggles in
justifying its existence, made worse by the fact that there is some potential
there. Hemsworth and Thompson deserve more, and one has to wonder what
partnering with their Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi might’ve
produced, or any other director with come creative vision. None of this works
and it’s just another blockbuster that will come and go, only remembered for
being the failed attempt at a Men in Black film without Will Smith.
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