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www.michigandaily.com July 8, 2002
SAME STUFF DIFFERENT MOVIE
The 'Black' suits are
comn' and sending
audiences running
By Jeff Dickerson remains the same.
Daily Arts Editor If a movie were to be judged on its
opening scene alone, "Men In Black -
They're back. In black. Tommy II" would receive mass praise. The
Lee Jones and Will Smith return to story begins with an "Unsolved
battle the alien scum of the earth in Mysteries" -type retelling on an old
an all new adventure, but the prob- "MIB" case. Hosted by Peter Graves
Lem with "Men In ("Airplane"), the clip fea-
Black II" is that there tures the kind of bad act-
is nothing quite new ing, outlandish costumes ,A
about it.*' and low budget special
Basd n heco i effec ts you would expect °
baed o the sme MEN IN BLACK e n
name, the original At Shaowcase and The edititng and filming ;<
"Men I n Black" Quality 16 of the TV shows are mock-
opened in 1997 ott July, Columbia Pictsrces ingly reminiscent of '50s
4th weekend to sold B-movies like "Creature
out crowds looking for a lighthearted From the Black Lagoon." Unfortu- Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Sci-Fi summer spectacle. It earned nately this is the high point of the Will Smith wishing he could sell albums and Tommy Lee Jones wishing he could have been in "Under Siege 2."
over $250 million domestically and film, and the rest of the movie tum-
became a certifiable summer block- bles into a downward spiral of disguised as a Victoria's Secret galaxy. generation, while Cross remains an
buster. The film followed Agents Jay rehashed jokes and gags. model. The twiggy seductress wears Returning alongside Smith and entertainment enigma. The bald
(Smith) and Kay (Jones), members This time around Jay has a new an ultra tight costume that enables Jones are Rip Torn ("Larry Sanders comedian best known for his work
of a secret govern- partner in Agent Tee (Patrick War- the otherwise lanky actress to have Show") as the MIB commander in on the HBO sketch comedy series
ment agency that burton, "Seinfeld"). Jay finds it dif- some mighty fine alien cleavage, chief, Tony Shalhoub ("The Man "Mr. Show" has little more than a
monitor extra ficult working with new partners She seeks the Light of Zartha, a Who Wasn't There") as the pawn cameo, but his presence is the most
terrestrial activ- and yearns for the old tag team curious object on which the fate of shop owner Jeebs and the ever lov- memorable one in the crowded "Men
ity on Earth, as days of Jay and Kay. Meanwhile the planet rests. Her somewhat able Frank the Pug. These familiar In Black II."
they engaged Kay, having been neuralized comical cohort characters don't seem to have the Clocking in at a meager hour and
in an inter- into retirement at the end of Scard/Charlie enthusiasm they did in the original, a half, "Men In Black Ii" is over
galactic show- the first film, is enjoying ( J o h n n y and seem more than anything to be before you know it, and that's a
down. Five his new civilian life as a K n ox v i l l e, fulfilling contractual obligations. good thing. The plot and jokes
years later postal worker. Trouble "Big Trouble") The biggest laughs in "Men In retread what director Barry Sonnen-
with "Men ensues with the arrival of is a dimwitted, Black 11" don't come from "Fresh feld and his team of special effects
In Black Serleena (Lara Flynn two-headed Prince" Will Smith or "Jackass" wizards created in the summer of
II," the Boyle, "Twin 4 alien that Johnny Knoxville, they come from 1997. The film feels stale and lacks
s o n g Peaks"), a vile seems to be a David Cross. Smith and Knoxville the creativity and fun of the original
k a i n y . i poor choice in are household names of the MTV "Men In Black."
Donna Hayward and Freddy Riedenschnelder try to find out who killed Laura Palmer.
To MAKE IT IN'
f y
THIS LIFE, YOU ca
CAN ONLY TRUST
YOURSELF.
YOURSELF AND
DAILY ARTS OF Any
COURSE. Fl yL