Jones, Smith land laughs in latest blockbuster alien flick

Image courtesy www.meninblack.com

Just a year after piloting a reassembled flying saucer into outer space to save the planet on Independence Day, Will Smith is back again to protect us from alien invasion.

The potential for typecasting and extraterrestrial overkill is obvious, but Smith's latest sci-fi blockbuster, Men in Black, stands alone as a worthwhile comedy in a summer of high-priced, but unimpressive Hollywood productions.

In Men in Black, director Barry Sonnenfeld taps into America's alien obsession with a unique combination of Star Wars-like imagery and the deadpan humor of Dragnet.

Inspired by a comic book of the same name, Men in Black plays with pop culture folklore to create a world where tabloids tell the truth and aliens live secretly among us.

Smith plays Agent J, a New York City cop who is recruited into a secret order of government agents that shrouds the existence of aliens by policing their activity on earth.

J teams up with Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones), a veteran alien buster, to prevent an extraterrestrial cockroach from instigating interstellar warfare.

This unlikely pair takes to the streets in search of the cockroach disguised in human skin, hiding among all of the freaks in New York.

With countless species of grotesque and outlandish aliens, Men in Black delivers all of the wild visual effects we have come to expect from summer blockbusters. But unlike the big budget flops that have disappointed movie-goers all summer long, Men in Bla ck is more than a collection of explosions and computer generated images.

It is an entertaining, character-driven comedy, anchored by a clever script and strong performances from Smith and Jones.

The constant, quick-witted banter between the two adds color to the script and brings a genuine, light-hearted feel to the movie.

As a hardened alien cop, Jones demonstrates a knack for delivering the one-liner while maintaining his authoritative presence. His dry and serious demeanor is the perfect comedic match for Smith's clumsy charm.

One of the few bright spots in last summer's Independence Day, Smith has emerged as the widely appealing, boy-next-door movie star of the hip hop generation: a sensitive Eddie Murphy for the 90's.

In Men in Black Smith plays the reluctant hero with just the right combination of innocence and charisma. He can't help but endear himself to the audience as he stumbles his way through precarious situations.

This is the freshest performance yet from the former Fresh Prince. Those who might be reluctant to see Smith in yet another alien thriller should rest assured that this is not a recycling of Independence Day.

Men in Black succeeds where its special effects driven predecessor crashed and burned. It is hardly Oscar material, but Men in Black is a smart, satirical comedy that allows us to laugh at ourselves and our times.