What happens when you give the Men in Black franchise a Marvel Cinematic Universe makeover, but none of its chutzpah? You get a Men in Black: International. Directed by F Gary Gray, Men in Black: International is not only the fourth instalment in the franchise, but also acts as a spinoff/reboot. The original leads, Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, are not returning here in their iconic characters of Agents K and J. Instead the series recruits the Ragnarok duo, Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, to guide the franchise into new corners of the universe. So does the idea work? Their chemistry sure does, once again, but it isn't enough to sell us a Smith-and-Jones less MIB. Chris Hemsworth And Tessa Thompson Tour To Russia For Men In Black: International Promotion With Frank The Pug (And He Is Super Cute)!

When Molly (Tessa Thompson) was a kid in Brooklyn, she inadvertently comes across an alien and the MIB, who are after it, and witnesses how the agents erase the memories of her parents. When she grows up, Molly has one aim - to join the secret organisation and understand the ways of the universe.

She finally stumbles upon the American HQ of MIB, where the Head Agent O (Emma Thompson), instead of erasing her memories, recruits Molly as the probationary Agent M. As her first assignment, Agent M is sent to the UK HQ, headed by High T (Liam Neeson). There, M tags herself along with the charming but light-headed Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) to protect a dignitary from another planet.

However, the mission botches up thanks to the arrival of two Alien Twins (who reminded me of the Twins from Matrix Revolutions). M, meanwhile, gets her hand on an alien artefact that is eyed by other species, and the knowledge that someone in her team could be a mole. And under the suspicion needle is also her new partner, H.

But, having seen the trailers and that cast, if you can't really guess who the double-crosser is, perhaps, you haven't seen enough movies!

Interesting point about the film is that the weak villain reveal isn't really its undoing. It is the over-dependence on our love for the Ragnarok pairing of Thompson and Hemsworth. Unlike the first film that takes the time in developing a terrific rapport between the two leads, Men in Black: International comes with a pre-disposed notion that the camaraderie has already been established. And if the Marvel dependency isn't subtle enough for us to discern, the movie even throws an in-your-face (albeit funny) callback to Thor.  Even the humour induced feels too Marvel-like and doesn't manage to land well at all times, relying more on the actors to make them work out.

While both the lead stars still have incredible chemistry, the movie doesn't give them material to make the bonding feel synced to the plot. Siddhant Chaturvedi To Walk Red Carpet With Chris Hemsworth, Thanks to Men In Black: International Team!

We also can't really connect with either of the characters, when we take out Tessa Thompson's enthusiasm and Chris Hemsworth's hunky charm. Agent M is trying too hard, but ultimately comes out as flat, while H is an unlikable snob saved by his pretty boy bubble who even baits his female partner to a horny alien for his mission. So when MIB4 send them across a half-the-world tour to get back their MacGuffin, they hardly hold our interest in what's happening with them. Even the narrative offers very little surprises in terms of plot development, though the subplot involving the alien mafioso queen Riza (Rebecca Ferguson) has some moments of intrigue. Even the climax, even with its world-ending dangers, is a huge downer!

Watch the trailer of Men in Black: International below:

The only people who kind of stand out in the movie are Agent C (Rafe Spall) and Pawny (Kumail Nanjiani). Spall steals the show every time he appears as the prudish MIB agent, always clashing with H. Kumail Nanjiani manages to make Pawny, the last of the chess-set like alien species who tags along M and H, adorable.

Men in Black: International isn't a complete washout also; it connects with you when it returns to its basic USP - the ingenious ways the aliens are hiding in our world. And yeah, the gadgets. The twist surrounding the neuralyzer (the device that wipes memories) near the end is also fine, though it is marred by a predictable reveal that comes before. The special effects are decent, if not great, and the movie has a polished look overall.

Yay!

- Thompson and Hemsworth's Chemistry

- Spall and Nanjiani

- Some Funny Scenes and Callbacks

Nay!

- A Predictable, Humdrum Screenplay

- Characters We Can't Really Connect With

-Over-Dependence on The Lead Stars' Pre-Established Chemistry

- Doesn't Take the Franchise to New Avenues

Final Thoughts

Men in Black: International may rely on the charm of its lead stars, but it doesn't have its own charm to expand or rejuvenate the franchise. The kindest thing I can say about the movie is that Men In Black: International can be watched once without cringing. But by the time the end-credits roll in, it's as if someone pointed a neuralyzer at you, and made you forget what's the point of it all!

 

Rating:2out of 5

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 14, 2019 12:56 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).