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Men in Black: International

6/10

Stars: Tessa Thompson, Chris Hemsworth, Kumail Nanjiani, Rebecca Ferguson, Rafe Spall, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Les Twins Laurent Bourgeois and Larry Bourgeois

Director: F Gary Gray

The sequel strikes back. And, given that this latest bite into the highly profitable Men in Black franchise is patently audience-aimed and seeks to offer filmgoers more of what made the previous pictures so profitable, it has gained rather more critical disapproval than it deserved.

Art Marcum and Matt Holloway's serviceable screenplay sensibly segues into special effects-driven action whenever possible, taking advantage of the utilitarian creative decision to expand the alien-fighting adventures of the MIB all over the world, rather than sticking to their established home base in New York.

And, sensibly, they introduce a new character in indomitable Brooklyn rookie M, played for all its worth and reasonably endearingly by Tessa Thompson (the other Thompson - Emma - returns in fine bossy form to organise MIB agents) in their latest battle to save Mankind from assorted hostile aliens that, driven by better-than-ever special effects, inevitably deliver some of the most memorable performances in a busy story that takes distinguished Man in Black Hemsworth (delivering a likeable performance that pleasantly balances charm with determined kill-the-aliens havoc) to save Mankind yet again.




Alan Frank

USA 2019. UK Distributor: Sony (Columbia). Colour.
109 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 1.

Review date: 22 Oct 2019

DVD review