Well with the element of surprise gone from Men in Black II, what we are left with is bigger gags and still wonderful chemistry between Smith and Jones. Back in Black is Will Smith (Ali) as agent J who seems to have a problem with all his partners and has to flash them and erase their memory. With the conclusion of the first Men in Black Tommy Lee Jones (Rules of Engagement) as Agent K chooses to retire and have his memory flashed. He is now Kevin Brown, Postal Agent and surrounded by aliens in the Post Office all day. Back in this movie are some old favorites like Frank the pug who temporarily teams up with Smith when everyone else is afraid to be his partner, those cute worms, who look like they are getting outside endorsements from cellular companies and Burger King, as well as the lovely Jeebs (Tony Shalhoub of 13 Ghosts).

The film starts with a brief history lesson from the early seventies. The Queen of the Universe Laranna (Paige Brooks) tried to hide the key to the universe on earth because the evil Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle) was out to get it and destroy Laranna’s planet and any planet she engages in hiding this key. Convinced that it was sent to another planet, Serleena leaves earth and spends the next 25 years looking for it. With a hot tip she lands on earth once again to seek out this key. She ends up in a pizza joint where she vaporizes the owner, unaware that Rita (Rosario Dawson of Josie and the Pussycats) a waitress there witnessed the whole scene. Smith arrives and takes Rita to his favorite place for pie and to flash people, only he is unable to take away Rita’s memory because he kinda has a thing for her. Smith is now in search of his old partner Jones to unlock this key to the universe issue since that was assigned to Jones back in the seventies and he would know what really happened. Well how do you un-erase someone’s memory? With some stupid electric chair gadget, and it doesn’t always work. While Serleena takes over Headquarters, Smith and Jones pay old friend Jeebs a visit since he happens to have one of those machines in his basement. True to form, Jones blows off his head, why? Because he knows it grows back. After they save the world again, what we discover about these two by the book guys is in love, they are not so by the book.

The sequel is just as entertaining and funny as the original, and the chemistry between Smith and Jones is just as funny. Also appearing in this movie are Rip Torn (Freddy Got Fingered) as MIB Chief Z and a cameo from Michael Jackson as an undercover alien intelligence officer. I heard he begged for a role in this film. Well even though you know how the movie is going to end, it still was fun to watch so I give Men in Black II an eight on the About-Movies.com scale.

Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:47:43 AM

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