Sidesplitting 'Men in Black' sequel just as funny second time

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

MEN IN BLACK II (Rated PG-13, with profanity, comic violence) Three Stars (Good) Another adventure of the black-clad detectives, protecting the Earth from run-amuck aliens. Director Barry Sonnenfeld returns along with his perfectly cast stars, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. What the sequel lacks in originality, it makes up for zany attitude, funny performances and a parade of wacko creatures. Columbia, 82 mins.

Sorry but "Men in Black," and now its sequel put me in a ghostbustin' frame of mind.

Both franchises spotlight a wacky team protecting us from other worldly creatures. In the "Ghostbusters" films, it's spirits. In the "MiB" movies, it's aliens.

Each series puts an irreverent comic spin on popular sci-fi and horror movie genres, each offers slimy monsters, and each features unlikely heroes who are as adept at getting laughs as they are at corralling creepy-crawlies.

But, that said, there are differences.

First, the men in black have a super-cool dress code: They wear black suits and sunglasses, apparently borrowed from the Blues Brothers. And, second, both "Men in Black" films have accomplished a near-impossible feat: They make a very funny comedian out of one of the dourer and seemingly humorless actors on the planet, Tommy Lee Jones.

In "MIB II," Jones once again co-stars with Will Smith. They form a crackerjack alien-fighting team.

But first, they must be reunited. Fans of the original will recall that Agent Kay (Jones) has had his memory erased.

Agent Jay (Smith) must grab Kay from his current job (as a small-town postmaster) and use a device to restore his memory.

If this were a serious film, you'd scoff. Don't worry, it's not. And you don't. Instead, you laugh.

This time, they're determined to protect the universe from Serleena, an evil Kylothian creature whose normal shape is a giant mass of snakes and tentacles.

Once on Earth, she assumes the look of the first creature she sees. It's our good luck that it's a Victoria's Secret underwear model (Lara Flynn Boyle).

Serleena is desperate to secure some sort of powerful light that has supposedly been left on Earth. Helping her is another alien (Johnny Knoxville) who has two heads but only half a brain.

Don't give this shallow, nonsensical plot a moment's thought. It's not worth it.

"Men in Black II," like the original, is all about its goofy style, it's nutty main characters, and the eccentric variety of bizarre creatures who pop in and out of the movie, thanks to the talents of master monster-maker Rick Baker and various special effects artists.

(None are quite as weird as Michael Jackson, who makes a cameo as a Men in Black wanna-be. Also look for director Barry Sonnenfeld's own cameo, as a family man on the couch who has no idea his house hides a cache of important MiB weaponry.)

"MiB II" marks Sonnenfeld's second go-round with the material — he also was in charge of the original. And the film overflows with the sort of delightful dementia we've come to expect after his "Addams Family" films and the original "Men in Black."

Jones and Smith once again shine. They keep themselves above the parade of oddball creatures with an attitude and enthusiasm that generates frequent laughter.

The casting of Jones remains sheer genius, since he plays brilliantly off the more comedy-experienced Smith. Sometimes it's funny, just to see the craggy-faced Jones stand there with smoke coming out of his ears.

As with most sequels, the buzz of originality is gone; but Sonnenfeld and his writers and actors are able to mine enough additional laughs out of the concept to keep fans entertained.

Besides, the "Men in Black" movies were never all that original, anyway. As I said at the start, "Ghostbusters" and "The Blues Brothers" had a baby, and they called it "Men in Black."

Now there's a grandchild.

Rated PG-13, with profanity, comic violence.