Film

The ‘Men In Black: International’ Reviews Are In And Everybody Loves Tessa Thompson

"It’s an entertaining movie, made better by the people in it."

by Joseph Earp  13 June 2019
Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson in Men In Black: International trailer

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The Men In Black franchise has had something of an unusual journey to and from our screens.

When the first film debuted in 1997, it was a considerable breath of fresh air in a singularly dour and overstuffed era for Hollywood. Unlike the other joyless big budget blockbusters that were doing the rounds at the time, Men In Black was actually fun — anchored by two incredible central performances, and itching with creative life and colour. Add to that a massive commercial reception, and a sequel seemed inevitable.

But it was five long years before the (considerably less well recieved) second instalment came around, and then an additional ten years after that when the trilogy was rounded out with a third film. Moreover, MI3 ended with a clear finale for its two central characters — it seemed clear that if the franchise was to continue, it would be without Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith.

Well, now the baton has been passed and the series has been given new life: Men In Black: International, starring Tessa Thompson and Australia’s own Chris Hemsworth, has been designed as a fresh direction for the franchise, filled with new characters and new challenges.

But how exactly has it fared with the critics?

What’s The Point?

One of the major criticisms lobbed at Men In Black: International has been its episodic, unessential feel. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian, labelling the film “Meh In Black” and giving it one star out of a possible five, has tried and failed to discover its actual purpose. “It’s time to wave the neuralyzer in the face of every executive involved and murmur softly: forget about this franchise,” he says, dismissing it as a forgettable Hollywood actioner.

Similarly, David Sims of The Atlantic acknowledges that though the film tries to ape the tone of the original, it comes of feeling like significantly less than the sum of its parts. “The basic ingredients are there,” he writes. “Odd-couple stars, big special effects, and a decent blend of comedy and action. But this sequel-slash-spinoff comes across as a lifeless piece of content, bearing a brand name and a glossy look but little else to remember it by.”

Slightly less damning is Tasha Robinson of The Verge, who acknowledges that the film is “predictable”, but couches her issues in a slightly more favourable light. Describing it as “curiously calm and inert” she acknowledges it is “still funny”, if only mildly, and praising Thompson and Hemsworth’s dynamic.

Long Live Tessa Thompson

Indeed, even the most vicious of reviews have highlighted Thompson’s performance as a rogueish, quick-witted Men In Black newbie as one of the standouts of the film. Calling the production “slick” and polished, though couching such praise in distinctly muted terms, Sean Keane of CNet reckons Thompson mostly shows “plenty of spark”.

Most positive of all is Beth Elderkin of i09, who has nothing but good things to say about Thompson’s “natural charisma” and her comedic rapport with Hemsworth. “It’s an entertaining movie,” she writes, “made better by the people in it.”

Of course, that will be of no surprise to the legion of Thompson stans who have known for many years that the actress is one of the finest talents in Hollywood — a crackling, dynamic presence, able to handle comedy and drama in equal measure. Let’s just hope that, regardless of how Men In Black: International continues to be recieved, she gets another chance to shine in a movie of this size soon.

Men In Black: International is out in Australian cinemas now.