[Published at Film Inquiry] Men In Black: International may not quite be the Valkyrie and Thor buddy cop film certain viewers were hoping for, as it is shorter on story and comedy, lengthier in runtime, and heavier in subpar spectacle. Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson play Agent H and Agent M, respectively, of the London branch of Men in Black (M.I.B.). Sent by Agent O, played by two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson (Men in Black 3, the only film she’s known for, obviously), Agent M, the only agent to find the M.I.B. Headquarters, forgo recruitment, and pass the entrance requirements, must go to London to find a mole in their M.I.B. branch, led by Agent High T (Liam Neeson), with rivaling Agent C (Rafe Spall) competing for the role of director.

Written by Iron Man and Transformers: The Last Knight scribes Matt Holloway and Art Marcum, MIB: International is overlong, the details of the introduction to the one hour-and-fifty-five-minute-long film feel glossed over, and the narrative rushed. There isn’t enough time for Agent H and Agent M to form the kind of on-screen rapport that Hemsworth and Thompson had in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame.

For that matter, the chemistry of their relationship doesn’t hold a candle to that of  Agent J and Agent K in the original franchise. Obviously, they’re playing different characters in MIB: International, but when their introduction is rushed and their character development stunted to make room for shaky one-liners, there isn’t adequate room left over for chemistry to evolve originally within the performances. Contrarily, Kumail Nanjiani’s voice as Pawny is a standout performance that serves as a bright star in this mediocre reboot.

Where Did All The Aliens Go?

Director F. Gary Gray is a solid choice to attempt to breathe new life into this franchise. He’s directed a fine combination of comedies and thrillers, and action films including Friday, The Negotiator, Straight Outta Compton, and The Fate of the Furious. However, although a commendable nod to and extension of the MIB universe, MIB: International isn’t as visually inspired as original trilogy director Barry Sonnenfield’s imagination is (for the first time, he served as executive producer on this film instead of director).

Naturally, Gray can only do so much with Holloway and Marcum’s comparatively less fanciful script. Whereas the other films had memorable villains (Edgar the Bug, played by Vincent D’Onofrio, in Men In Black, Sarleena, played by Lara Flynn Boyle, in Men In Black 2, and Boris the Animal, played by Jemaine Clement, in Men In Black 3), this film has mindless, non-speaking entities as the primary villains until a predictable twist is revealed, and the mole within the London branch is caught.

There aren’t enough new aliens; memorable characters that can carry a universe like Frank the Pug, Jeebs, and who could forget the Worm Guys? Even though the miniature, perverted aliens have a non-speaking cameo, they, along with the cartoonish charm of the originals that they remind viewers of, are sorely missed. This international extension isn’t as rich as the original trilogy’s. Not yet, at least. That doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. Pawny is the sole alien character that stands out in the reboot.

Pawny’s Bittersweet Charm

Pawny marks comedian-turned-actor-but-still-comedian Nanjiani’s first voiceover role in a feature film, and he has an absolute blast doing it. To be fair, it looks like everyone involved in this film has a blast, but Nanjiani’s energy is infectious in every scene, and something that’s heavily lacking until his official introduction. As Agent M’s loyal “pawn,” Pawny is M and H’s sidekick. To help maintain a chemistry with Thompson and Hemsworth, Nanjiani spent time on set with them during principal photography, and it shows.

Although Pawny symbolizes hope, he also serves as a reminder, the face on the gravestone of MIB: International, the film that almost could. Pawny being the sole survivor of his species at the hands of a new weapon and foe haunting the making storyline reminds audiences that the save-humanity-from-annihilation trope, although it worked 20 years ago in the first installment of this franchise, and even through Men In Black 3, which beats International in story and character development, it’s become a tired thing to witness, repeatedly, on screen, in 2019. Perhaps there could be a different threat that involved something bigger than humanity? That may be a way to break the MIB story wheel and expand the universe.

Something Doesn’t Add Up

For the sake of comparison, Will Smith as Agent J and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent K have a hard-earned chemistry, and surprisingly emotional, intertwining character arcs, as revealed in MIB 3. There’s no friction or conflict between Agent H and Agent M. Their character’s aren’t developed thoroughly enough for us to establish if these partners are alike, opposites, or a combination of the two. Nonetheless, Hemsworth and Thompson do an admirable job of working with the dialogue that they’re given. They deliver their one-liners as well as any actor working today could, but a decent amount of them don’t land.

For a film that never quite finds its footing between franchise homage or new entry, new style, Danny Elfman‘s effortlessly retro score seems out-of-place, a quality effort, although one of the only consistent elements of MIB: International that holds the film together, somewhat wasted in the narrative context. In a time when satire is losing its meaning, the celebrity aliens seem more tame, less refreshing than they once were. There aren’t enough quality jokes or gimmicks to make this reboot seem fresh.

Conclusion: A Step Down From MIB 3

Men In Black 3 breathed new life into the franchise by finding something within the story to surprise audiences with. Men In Black: International is the same franchise formula applied to two new characters and retrofitted. It should stand to reason that perhaps new characters should get a slightly tweaked formula. The end product is a film that doesn’t creatively expand the Men In Black universe or explore the deep end of its possibilities, but rather, safely floats in the shallow end, seemingly stuck between schools of nostalgia, novelty, and narrative nuance.

Did you enjoy seeing Hemsworth and Thompson on screen in a different franchise? Would you like to see more of Gray’s take of this universe?

Men In Black: International is currently in theaters. For more information on its release, click here.

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