MIB International - Film Review

22 years after the first Men In Black released, this fourth MIB adventure once again reminds us that maybe the MIB series is just a one film wonder. 

The setting is London and Paris this time (International) perhaps because the word ‘aliens’ has taken a whole different meaning in America! The story starts with Molly (Tessa Thomson) who, after a chance encounter with an alien and MIB during her childhood, has wanted nothing else than to be an MIB agent. She finally becomes one (on probation) and gets paired with hero Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) on an apparently insignificant meeting that turns into the most important mission to save Earth’s destruction from an age-old evil alien force, the Hive. After many journeys across the globe, cool gadgets, many special effects, and the ominous threat of a mole in the agency, our hero and heroine save the day and the world. Hurrah!

MIB International has all the makings of a fun movie. The star cast is perfect. Liam Neeson as the no-nonsense-all-knowing Agent T (replacing Tommy Lee Jones’ Agent K) Chris Hemsworth, having discovered his funny bone in Thor Ragnarok as the arrogant-young-irreverent Agent H (replacing Will Smith as Agent J). And the welcome addition of Tessa Thomson as the confident-eager-under dog Agent M, and as a woman foil to the boys club of MIB. 

With good chemistry between the characters and some funny moments, the film starts with a lot of promise. But then it walks down a familiar trodden path, with fun action here and there but nothing much more. There is a loose storyline, but nothing that excites or surprises or stuns or disgusts. 

And that was why we had loved MIB 1. It was a movie that was so out-of-whack at the time, that we were like “Woah, what the hell was that”. Of course, the very idea of an agency that manages the delicate balance of alien life on Earth and in the Galaxy, was so completely crazy, that we were hooked from the first scene. Add to that the chemistry between Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, and it was the perfect recipe for a really good time. 

And maybe that’s the difference between 1997 and 2019. With a much lower SFX and tech capability, films had to rely on an idea that was inherently strong. The story followed next and the special effects were the last mile. In 2019, we seem to start at the other end, with creating special effect scenes and action, then weave a story around it and amidst all that, the idea is lost.

MIB International is a loosely narrated, mildly entertaining, lightly adventurous, lazy attempt at resurrecting a franchise that actually never was one. We know, in these times, it’s tempting just to create sequels than invest in creating a whole new idea. But, come on Hollywood, that’s what you were good at. You can do better than this. Half of 2019 is still left. We’re waiting…