'Men in Black: International' Review

Synopsis: The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.

Runtime: 114 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sci-fi action, some language and suggestive material)

Who should see it? Passionate fans of the Men in Black franchise.

Directed by F. Gary Gray with a screenplay by Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, Men in Black: International seeks to rejuvenate the series as a globe-trotting spy adventure on the heels of the three Will Smith/Tommy Lee Jones-led Men in Black features. Sony Pictures is a notoriously money-hungry studio, and it's been seven years since MIB 3, so it makes sense that the studio would be keen to prolong the series via a soft-reboot. On paper, you'd even expect that the talent involved would be able to produce something satisfactory. Gray's a successful filmmaker while Thor: Ragnarok co-stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson are a promising pair with a pre-existing rapport.

Unfortunately, MIB: International never amounts to being anything more than a cookie-cutter summer blockbuster which was clearly made to cash in on an established franchise. Most sequels and spin-offs are developed with the intent of securing a healthy financial return, and there's nothing wrong with that in-of-itself. However, MIB: International is devoid of style, spirit, and personality. I take no issue with watching something formulaic, so long as it successfully implements said "formula," but MIB: International can't even do that. While MIB: International is inoffensive and competently made, I doubt I'll ever have an urge to rewatch due to its lacking entertainment value. 

The worst thing I can really say about MIB: International is that I deemed it bland and boring, which is blasphemy for a MIB entry. Men in Black isn't a sacred franchise by any means, but something is endearing about how weird and over-the-top those first three films were. Even the worst ones captured the ludicrous nature and nonsensical tone of it all. A universe in which aliens secretly inhabit Earth and are policed by a government agency is one that's ripe for expansion. MIB: International strives to do just that by introducing the London branch and visiting other international locales. These backdrops prove to be very inconsequential though, lending little of interest to the onscreen affairs.

Redeeming qualities are few and far between for MIB: International, but I did appreciate Marcum and Holloway's efforts to differentiate from the previous installments. Most notably, the dynamic between Agents M and H heavily contrasts J and K. M is a headstrong, knowledgable rookie while H is a top agent who lost his mojo. I considered that change-up refreshing, as MIB: International could have easily been a retread of its predecessors. In keeping with their onscreen personas, Thompson and Hemsworth offer their characters a degree of charm and likability. Kumail Nanjiani's Pawny was a pleasant addition while Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, and Rebecca Ferguson hardly register due to lacking screen-time. Ultimately, the entire ensemble is restricted by a subpar script as characters dilly-dally for two hours.

If interested in seeing Men in Black: International, I'd recommend you break out your neuralyzer and forget that idea. Though well-intentioned and competently made, MIB: International joins this summer's expanding blockbuster roster of studio-mandated mediocrity. Your time and money would be better spent seeing Late Night, the other movie starring Emma Thompson which expands into theaters nationwide this weekend, and I'll soon share a review for it.

Film Assessment: C