Guess who's back, back again (Men In Black 2 - Superbit (DVD))

Name: gollygumdrops

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Product:	Men In Black 2 - Superbit (DVD)
Date:	05/08/02 (126 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun

Disadvantages: .

I rarely look forward to a sequel, but trailers for MIIB looked great so I happily settled down to a showing this weekend. It was well worth it.

The basic story sees Will Smith fighting to keep the Earth safe without Tommy Lee Jones, who has retired to work for the United States Postal Service, a place where, as I'm sure you all know, most visitors from other planets are able to find work. I must admit, if I was a United States Postal worker I might be a little offended by the stereotyping in this film, so offended in fact that I might just 'go postal'!

The film really gets going when Tommy Lee Jones is back in the saddle having been de neuralised by the re-appearing head guy from the first movie, as only he can save us all. Without his calm efficiency Will Smith seems a little lost.

Some characters from the original movie are back, bigger and better than before. The talking dog, Frank, takes up a temporary role as Will Smiths partner, and the smoking worm guys get there own apartment, in which they can entertain women by playing Twister (you probably need to see the film to find that anything other than just plain disturbing).

The new baddie is interesting, if more than a little gross in her Medusa-like moments. Arriving on Earth she takes on a new form, and for a brief moment I finally saw on the big screen a woman who looks just like me when wearing Victoria?s Secret underwear (that?s disturbing with or without seeing the film!).

MIIB answers plenty of questions for me, particularly the one about ?what the hell is up with that Jonny Knoxville guy??. He plays a dim witted alien who owes more than a little to Zaphod Beeblebrox. Interesting cameos from Michael Jackson, sadly held back by Men in Black?s failure to have an alien affirmative action programme and an intergalactic Martha Stewart added to the fun. I certainly won?t risk dropping litter on the tube again, now I know what happens t
o it.

Zaphod was joined from the Hitchhikers Guide by a scene in which a scale error almost results in an invasion fleet being eaten by a small dog. The MIIB storyline also seemed to be recycled, and if you?re going along to the movie expecting a surprising drama you should probably avoid watching The Fifth Element as anyone other than the movies lawyers will tell you, it?s a straight lift. That doesn?t make it a bad film though.

I did become irritated by the product placement in the film. I hadn?t really noticed much in the first film, except for the Marlboros enjoyed by the worm guys in duty free, but this time round I felt positively violated by the volume of messages. The commercials are so blatant that the HQ contains a Burger King and a Sprint Store. It got naffer and naffer throughout the film, to the point of being distracting.

In spite of this I do plan to watch MIIB again, and soon. It is the kind of film where little references and quips can pass you by the first time, and I know I?ll enjoy watching the range of aliens in the fore and backgrounds as there was plenty going on.

Summary: