Review of Men In Black 2

Introduction

1997 brought some pretty good flicks to our eyes, and one of the most popular was a buddy-buddy sci-fi comedy revolving around agents of a top secret agency that controlled extra-terrestrial life. E.T. it ain`t...

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith were the two leading agents, who hunted down wrong-doing aliens and subsequently put them in their place - albeit it with a well aimed shot or two from their vast array of firearms.

It struck a chord with pre-milennium audiences: here was a comedy that was a bit different, offered thrills and spills, and packed enough humour to keep the pre and post adolescents entertained.

After grossing a considerable amount, Columbia decided to go ahead with a sequel. First they got director Barry Sonnenfeld back on board, the two main stars, and then some supporting actors who added the unique charm the original possessed (Rip Torn, Tony Shalhoub et al).

The second opens as villainess Serleena lands on Earth in search of the Light of Zortha, and if it falls into the hands of the evil queen, it could spell the destruction of other planets. Naturally, MIB are assigned to prevent Serleena succeeding, and to make sure the light never falls into the wrong hands. But, problem is, (minor spolier approaching) Agent Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) retired at the end of the last film, and his memory was erased. Next problem - only Kay knows the full details of the Light. So, Agent Jay (Will Smith) must find him, restore his memory, and resume the mindset of their ass-kicking alter ego`s...

Video

It is presented in 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, and as one would expect from a big studio`s modern release, it is flawless. Crisp and clear, no dust nor artefacts, complete abscence of compression signs...this is almost as good as some of the `reference` discs.

Sonnenfeld directs with good comedic timing, being subtle yet accomplished when focusing on jokes or action integral to the plot. The film comprises of the usual live-action and CG composite shots, and they do look realistic most of the time...much more than the other recent alien saga: Attack of The Clones.

Rick Baker is back on board as make-up designer, yet he also works heavily with all visual elements, such as puppetry and animatronics, so therefore stereotyping him as the `guy who paints faces` is a misconception. If you have seen a lot of Baker`s work (and let`s face it, his CV is so large now that there is a huge chance you have seen at least one of his films) then you know what to expect - creatures that blend seamlessly into the action, and although are totally implausible (we are the only life in the universe that we know of at present of course) seem totally plausible in the context of the film.

Audio

A DD 5.1 track is on offer, and the surrounds are used to very good effect throughout. The main audio stream is crisp and clear, with good ambience levels and no volume conflict. However, I can`t help wondering that given the young age of this film, surely a DTS could have been applicable - after all, that would have spruced up the audio even more, and nowadays more and more people have DTS decoders.

The script is good, if a little predictable. The jokes are a bit more risqué than last time (Smith is fairly racist in this - but funny-racist, not racist-racist) but are just as fresh and laugh out loud. The set-pieces are fairly well done, but the characters aren`t developed as much as needed in a film like this.

Features

Spread across two discs, the first disc begins with an audio commentary from director Barry Sonnenfeld. It is informative and anecdotal, and although he is slightly patronising at times ("This shot was CGI..." he says a car morphs into a high-speed machine, and shoots off into the distance amidst a shroud of blue flame, to name one example) it is well worth a listen and is one of the better commentaries of recent DVD`s.

"MIB Training Video" is next on the screen, and this is a mockumentary of how to become an agent. Amusing, but not great.

Another mockumentary is entitled "Alien Broadcast"...and does exactly what it says on the tin. Again, amusing, but again, not that great.

To round off the first disc, there is a selection of trailers (including two promoting computer games). First up are two trailers for Men In Black 2: the theatrical and teaser. Then, there is a selection of other releases, ranging from Stuart Little 2 to Close Encounters of The Third Kind. Amongst these PR-related features is a short film: The Chub Chubb`s. This features some famous alien characters, with a fun plot, and although lasts just under 5 minutes, it is entertaining and well worth a watch.

Moving onto the second disc, there is a feature which consists of nine behind-the-scenes featurettes, focusing on all aspects of the production. From make-up insight to sequel ideas, each featurrette lasts about 8 minutes on average, so there is a lot of interesting information packed into the feature, offering a good look at how the production evolved, although some holes are left open (some of which are filled in - pardon the pun - by the commentary).

There is a blooper reel also provided, but this isn`t as good as other reels on other discs. The majority of the mistakes revolve around blue screen mess-ups, and aren`t as funny as they could be.

Don`t like the current ending? Then go and check out the next feature - an alternative ending. In my opinion it is much weaker than the original (it is strangely reminiscent of the final seconds of the original`s ending), but it might do for others. Find out for yourself...

Like the behind-the-scenes featurettes, some "Creature Features" are provided: these short snippets focus on each main alien in the film, and are interesting to see how the geniuses of the animation departments work.

The next feature means you need to pull out your remotes - and poise your thumb over the `Angle` button as yep, you guessed it, a multi-angle featurette is up next. Focus on different parts of the film, and take a look at some of the alternatives that could have made the final cut.

Here we go - more interviews. This one talks about Barry Sonnenfeld and his guide to `intergalatic comedy`...basically what he thinks is funny and what he thinks is utter s**t. Not captivating, but pads out the disc well.

Finishing up the `proper` extras, we have a music video - "Black Suits Coming (Nod Ya Head)" by Will Smith. Like part one, Smith provides the rather catchy theme tune, and just like its predecessor, this is instantly quotable, and the video is fairly good considering some recent offerings!

Static extras, we have some filmographies and a photo gallery: nothing wonderful, but adds some data for the DVD owners who want to know everything they can about a production. There are also three (count `em) theatrical one-sheets...you know the deal, basically a (limited) look at the advertising campaign.

Finally, bringing the extras to a close, there are some DVD-ROM features - interactive specialities for those who have a PC with a DVD drive. If you are bored one day, give them a whirl, but they are nothing too spectacular.

The menus are animated with moving images and background music. The first disc is a bit difficult to navigate, due to spinning logos and an annoying cursor; but the second disc is very simplistic and easy on the eye.

Conclusion

I saw this film in New York when I went there in July 2002 (come on, you travel 3000+ miles, yet one has to indulge in something that exists back home...but hey, at least I got to see a beast of a cinema over the Pond!) and thought it was quite good, but no way as good as the original. Second impressions - better than before.

This stands up to repeat viewings well, but the main flaw is that the film just isn`t long, or big, enough. Too little development, a cushy and slightly abrubt ending due to perhaps an over-inflated introduction...however, the acting is great, all performers contribute to define this as a great laugh no matter how old you are.

The film does offer something for everyone, whether it is sheer action or for the humour (or of course the very delectable Miss Lara Flynn Boyle in tight-fitting lingerie...), whether blatant or subtle.

Men In Black 2 is a summer flick: nothing deep, nothing serious, yet something that sits well when viewed over the rim of a popcorn bucket. Don`t expect much, and you`ll get a kick of some sort out of it, expect a film as good as the original then you`ll be disappointed.

The DVD itself is strong, good presentation (although a DTS track would have been even better), and the extras are comprehensive enough...yet this doesn`t sit as well as perhaps some other discs. I think this is because the features are in small chunks instead of bigger, more juicy ones. The mark for extras is being a bit lenient, because I think more emphasis on the origins of the production is needed instead of just visual effects themed insight, which, while this will please CGI aficonados, it will leave others slightly cold.

But for all the flaws I have brougtht up, this does what it says on the tin: a fun film on a fun disc for people who want a DVD that is a bit more deeper than others yet isn`t as comprehensive as some of the big releases.

Worth a rent for sure, and most will see that a purchase is justified. And, to be honest, I`m not going to disagree.