Sequels will always be judged compared to their predecessors. And this movie is no exception. Though I enjoyed seeing Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) together again, I couldn't help but feel that Men in Black II wasn't quite living up to the original, Men in Black.
What made the original so funny was the interaction between Agent J and K. In particular, it was the expertise and nothing-can-surprise-me attitude of Jones contrasting with the boisterous, always surprised, and yet cocky, Smith. Jones was the veteran and Smith was the rookie. This was a great combination. But in this sequel, the roles are reversed. Smith is the veteran, and Jones is a mailman who has forgotten all about his former job as protector of the universe, due to the fact that he has been "neuralized." This is all well and good as far as being somewhat fresh and original, but it simply isn't quite as funny. Smith as the straight man? Come on!
What I did like (and I'm sure every other heterosexual male will like as well) is the new villain. See picture above (no, NOT the one on the left!). Her name is Serleena (played by Lara Flynn Boyle), and her natural form is a medusa-like weed which can grow very rapidly. However, to disguise herself, she takes on the form of a Victoria's Secret model. They do some funny things with her character, such as when she eats a would-be rapist and winds up looking pregnant.
The other villain shown is rather strange. Basically, he has a smaller version of his head which comes snakelike out of his backpack. He is pretty much Serleena's henchman. Also entertaining to see was the dog (Pug), Frank. This Pug wears a suit and talks. Not only does he talk but he can't shut up. He even sings, much to the annoyance of Agent J (Smith). Also good to see again were the worm guys (below). They act pretty much like your average college roommates, but they are worms (with arms and legs, somehow).
The plot of the movie basically goes as this. Serleena comes to Earth in search of an ancient power which Agent K was assigned to dispose of years ago. Agent J is assigned to the case, but soon finds himself over his head. What he needs is his old partner back because the ones he has had (including Frank the Pug) just haven't added up. Meanwhile, Agent K is living a life of bliss as a mail worker after having been neuralized (which means that his memory has been erased). Agent J finds him and attempts to de-neuralize him (which takes some time to take effect). Meanwhile, Serleena is wreaking havoc until she finds "the light."
Like I said, this movie is entertaining and has some great and funny lines in it (such as when a driver is sucked into the steering wheel of the car and Jones asks "Does that come standard?" to which Smith replies "Naw. It came with a black dude, but he kept getting pulled over.") but it doesn't quite have the same chemistry and originality that the first one had.
Fun, but not as good as I expected.
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