Geekscape Reviews ‘Men In Black: International’ In 4DX
Do you want to feel old? It’s been 22 years since the original Men in Black became a nationwide phenomenon, helping solidify Will Smith as a certified superstar while bringing some top of the line special effects to the big screen. With the franchise going quiet since its last release in 2012, the organization is going worldwide with Men in Black: International. Forgoing its established characters to introduce new agents plucked straight from Marvel to fight the scum of the universe, the new film manages to be enjoyable enough without ever reaching the heights established by its iconic predecessor.
The latest MIB story is centered around Molly, a young woman who has been obsessed with the secret agency since she witnessed her parents having their memories wiped with the iconic neuralizers, (and managed to avoid the same fate somehow). After proving her worth, the American branch decides to give her an audition of sorts by pairing her up with Agent H, a legendary London agent who has never quite been the same since returning from a traumatic mission years prior. As a new threat surfaces with the ability to infiltrate the MIB from the inside, the eager, serious Molly and the apathetic H must find a way to work together and uncover this threat before it destroys the organization from the inside.
The film doesn’t take long to reintroduce us to the world of MIB, throwing us right into the inside of the organization rather quickly. Assuming viewers would know about its background established in the previous films, it sacrifices exposition for developing its new cast. Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth reunite after Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame paired the couple up a few times and their chemistry still shines through when they’re allowed to have fun. During the action sequences, comedic banter and a few dramatic scenes, its clear why these two were chosen to carry the franchise the fourth time around. Yet, I’m not sure if it’s the nature of H’s devil-may-care attitude or just tone problems with the script, but during much of the standard dialogue, it feels like they’re going through the motions a bit. In other words, when they’re having fun, it shines through. During the more mundane parts however, and M and H feel like they’d rather be anywhere else. It’s a drastic shift between the two dynamics, but when they’re on, they’re really good in their roles.
Aside from the two leads, Pawny, the animated mascot alien that’s sure to sell lots of toys once the kids catch wind of the movie, manages to be humorous without being overbearing despite first impressions. Kumail Nanjiani bounces off his co-stars well while having his moments as a sympathetic hero as opposed to being tied down as strictly comic relief. Perhaps more impressive are Laurent and Larry Bourgeois’ portrayal of The Twins, a pair of shape shifting aliens that serve as the primary antagonists for most of the film. The effects surrounding their powers are some of the most impressive visuals the movie has to offer, with their only downside being that their scenes are few and far between.
The lack of dialogue and screen time for The Twins is likely due to the mystery of the “mole” who has seemingly infiltrated the agency taking up most of the attention of the plot. This may have been more effective if the mystery was greater than the appeal of its other antagonists, but despite the film’s attempts to throw in a red herring here and there, the ultimate reveal will likely come as no surprise to anyone in the theater. This is part of the reason why the film ends up falling flat at the end from a narrative perspective, leaving me wanting more both because I like the foundation that this reboot has established while wanting a more exciting story deserving of the setup.
As alluded to above, Thompson and Hemsworth shine during the action scenes, but due to the mystery nature of the plot, it’s rare that the pair get to show off their futuristic guns and vehicles. Considering the most iconic shot of the original film was a giant alien spacecraft crashing into a field and barreling towards the heroes with all the visual splendor 1997 could produce, it’s strange that there would be so little alien technology this time around. There are callbacks here and there to the tech in the original films, (mostly surrounding the car and a certain button), but it just leaves you wanting more of what isn’t there. Thankfully, this is where experiencing the movie in 4DX was a huge benefit, with the effects kicking in during the most exciting parts of the movie. In the driving scenes especially, the lights, motion and rumble effects made it feel like you were in the backseat while all this insanity was happening around you. Thankfully, the effect was used sparingly, only when it was appropriate given the scene. This makes it feel more special and important when it goes into effect, so its tempered use during its most action packed scenes is a huge plus for me.
Ultimately, Men In Black: International is a fun film that had the potential to be so much better. Expanding the world established in the 1997 original while giving the reigns to the talented Hemsworth and Thompson was a great move, and the special effects of 2019 really make this world of aliens even more immersive. However, due to a predictable plot, few scenes to show off the special effects and some points where the energy feels drained from the actors, and we get a solid, yet uneven reboot. Regardless, the future of the franchise is bright and I’m excited to see how M and H can carry the films going forward.
Final Score: 3.5 / 5
