‘Men in Black International’ injects new life and humor into an aging franchise

Posted on June 21, 2019

By MARK VIOLA

With so many sequels, reboots and remakes hitting theaters this summer, I haven’t had a chance to rewatch the previous installments of every franchise releasing a new movie. That was the case with “Men in Black International,” the fourth film in the sci-fi series and the first to not star Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.

It’s been nine years since “Men in Black III,” and in the intervening years I had somehow managed to convince myself that I didn’t enjoy the movie. So, imagine my surprise when, just before starting this review of “International,” I went back and read my review from 2012 and discovered that I had actually enjoyed it quite a bit, calling it a “wild roller coaster of alien fun.”

Even though I did (apparently) enjoy the third installment, I do think it was time to turn the story over to new agents, and they found a solid pair in Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, who previously worked together in the hilarious “Thor: Ragnarok.” Their chemistry is on display again here, and while the film seems to be getting mostly negative reviews since its release last weekend, I found myself surprisingly entertained.

Director F. Gary Gray (“Straight Outta Compton”), taking over for Barry Sonnenfeld (who directed all three previous installments), finds fun ways to honor the past while firmly setting a new course for the franchise.

Subscribe to our e-Edition and read the rest of the story. Already a subscriber? Click here to sign in.