Director: F. Gary Gray
Writers: Matt Holloway, Art Marcum
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Kumail Nanjiani,Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Rafe Spall
Moviie Couple here! We went to see Men In Black: International this weekend! Remember we are just a married couple that loves movies! We’re here to tell you if we liked it. Film experts we are not! Just a quick reminder of our rating system. Mrs. Moviie Couple and I, rate films on whether they are worth the cash spent on a night out. we use a 1-6 Dollar Bill system. 1-2 Bills equal a waste of both our time and money! 3-4 Bills equal Meh to Pretty Good, money well spent! 5-6 Bills equal Wow! Well worth the price of dinner, movie and sitter! Please take our money again!
Men In Black: International continues and builds on the world started in 1997 with the original Men In Black starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. MIB:I introduces us into a new recruit to the MIB ranks (The mysterious covert government organisation that protects Earth from any and all threats without the public’s knowledge) and expands our story to the London Branch of the MIB. The film stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as the new Agents in the spotlight. They are joined by Liam Nesson and Emma Thompson as the Agents in Charge.
Rebecca Ferguson (of recent Mission Impossible fame) and Kumail Nanjiani round the cast out as alien enemies and allies met along the way. MIB:I begins with the story of Molly and how she becomes a member of the MIB (We never spoil here at Moviie Couple) and the facing of an alien threat known only as the Hive. As Tommy Lee Jones legendary MIB agent once told us all, there ALWAYS is a threat to Earth’s existence going on at any given time. Our director is F. Gary Gray of Straight Outta Compton and Fate of the Furious success! New characters, Big Stars, action sequences, alien threats and alien comic relief, a space McGuffin! I believe that covers our mission briefing. Will Molly earn her shades? Does Chris Hemsworth save the day? Does he manage to keep his shirt on? Will Earth survive the newest threat to all life on our planet? Grab your sunglasses, fire up your neuralyzers, straighten your ties and lets get right into the reviews!
So here we go!
Mr. Moviie Couple: I love Hemsworth from his work in the MCU as Thor and absolutely am a huge fan of Thompson from her portrayal of Bianca in both Creed films. So I had some high hopes coming in. Both worked together in Thor Ragnarok, which I didn’t like tone wise overall, but I felt they worked well together in that film. I also, for the most part, liked the MIB series. So we have two actors I enjoy very much, a series I enjoy mostly, what could go wrong? A LOT apparently. This film fails us on so many levels. Let me start by saying the first 15 minutes or so, our introduction to Molly (Tessa Thompson) and her entering the world of the MIB was very well done. It explained a lot left out in the trailer and I was on board early, but everything after her introduction fell off a cinematic cliff. Also this movie doesn’t just foreshadow, it foreshadows with huge NEON glowing signs everywhere!
Early scenes nearly leap at the viewer or point imaginary arrows at certain things (we never spoil) nearly screaming at the audience “THIS WILL BE IMPORTANT LATER!” It’s embarrassing. Every “surprise” or “shock” this film hoped to spring on you can be seen coming as early as the first 10-15 minutes in. This movie seemed to have a road map to its conclusion almost as soon as the opening sequence was finished. Hemsworth was his charming, bumbling, self. Part Bond/Part Maxwell Smart and all Hemsworth. Tessa was the best part of this film, as she made me believe she was Molly and that she was thoroughly enjoying finally being in the world she searched her whole life to find. But the funny chemistry that led this franchise to its great success, that of Smith and Jones, is absent from this film. Molly and H never reach that comradery or team work that even the rookie Smith did with Jones.
Even likeable Molly doesn’t quite earn her heroic moments. Two major moments for her come, not from her skill or brains, but rather from luck or alien pals. Nanjiani is funny as the alien sidekick Pawny, but not as funny as the script thinks he is. And in there lies the fault of MIB:I, the script or directing let this film down. The talent is there (although wasted on the great Ms. Ferguson) , the effort is there, but the execution is lacking. The sum does not equal the parts. Such a let down for a once great franchise despite great talent. I give Men In Black: International a solid 2 Bills! Ughh. What a waste of my money. I should have caught it on TBS in a few months.
Mrs. Moviie Couple: She summed her feelings up with one word, Predictable. Utterly predictable! She found Chris Hemsorth (usually a favourite of hers from the Super hero films she doesn’t care for) typical and even boring and lifeless. She even mentioned being somewhat insulted, as a female fan, that the film makers felt a few shirtless shots of Mr.Hemsworth would make her ignore a wooden performance. She thought Tessa Thompson’s performance was the only highlight, but still felt there was a lack of chemistry between the two leads. She was confused throughout the film as to whether the point was to build a romance between them or not. Neither performance leaned in either direction. Liam Neeson did nothing spectacular for her either and she felt he simply collected an easy paycheck.
She found the “Cute” Pawny (Nanjiani) not cute, funny or likeable. Even the aliens were generic and typical and added no fun as they did in the previous editions of the franchise. She stated “The best thing about this movie was the free MIB sunglasses they gave us.” The Mrs. felt this movie never should have been made. Her final comment was how she wished Will Smith would show up and Neutralise her so she could forget ever seeing this movie. “You never saw this movie, it never existed. Go see Aladdin again” She would beg for that memory instead. She would have walked out if she were alone. There must be some better things on HBO right now! Mrs. Moviie Couple gives Men In Black: International 1 Bill!!! Yikes, she said if our system allowed it she would have went lower!!
On the way home, We bemoaned the experience. I continued to talk of the world of MIB, how this film didn’t even follow the established rules of preventing public knowledge of aliens and how this film could have been better. She just kept saying it was her most painful movie experience so far. At least we got a pair of cool MIB sunglasses! I give it 2 Bills, just a badly executed sequel. The Mrs. gives it 1 Bill! She wanted to walk out! Even Hemsworth and Thompson could save this film, she wished the aliens won! So we’ll go with an average of 1.5 Wow! Run from this film, nothing to see here and if you do see something, get Neutralise quickly!
Till next time, Ties tight, glasses on and we’ll see you at the movies! Be sure to check our facebook page for a clue to our next movie up for review! Mr. & Mrs. Moviie Couple out!
Movie Burner Entertainment 