Critic Reviews
Men in Black II (2002) Rank 2 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (373) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
Reviews by Score:
CineFile : il Cinema in Rete (Alberto Cassani)
Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
The New York Times (A.O. Scott)
As fizzy as the first, but not quite as refreshing. The pleasurable, eye-popping sense of surprise has diminished, and the teasingly referential attitude shows signs of fatigue. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at The New York Times (A.O. Scott)
Film Threat (Ron Wells)
Hey, I'm not saying it's bad. It's kind of entertaining, what I can recall of it after two days. It's, uh, okay. Just okay, though. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Film Threat (Ron Wells)
Variety (Todd McCarthy)
Elaborate, sporadically amusing but awfully lightweight followup, which has close to the same tone as its predecessor but makes one realize that freshness had a lot to do with its impact. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Variety (Todd McCarthy)
Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
The only active ingredient is the dynamic between Smith and Jones. There's just enough of that to get us through. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
New York Times (A.O. Scott)
Within the trivial, ingratiating scope of its ambition, though, the sequel is pleasant enough. This is a picture that demands nothing of its audience, and not much more from its stars. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at New York Times (A.O. Scott)
Jam! Movies (Louis B. Hobson)
There is undeniable fun watching the antics unfold but there's nothing hysterical enough to warrant a return visit. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Jam! Movies (Louis B. Hobson)
Moose Hole (Joseph Kastner)
Here’s hoping that if there is a Men In Black III , more thought is spent on exploring new territory and perfecting the script instead of distribution of money. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Moose Hole (Joseph Kastner)
Toronto Star (Peter Howell)
The predictable effort makes the movie seem longer than its audience-friendly 88 minutes, and the script deficiencies account for the high number of alien and human supporting players. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Toronto Star (Peter Howell)
Slate (David Edelstein)
If it isn't the worst sequel ever made, it's only because it has too much competition: Impersonal and frenetic, it's a landmark Hollywood disgrace. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Slate (David Edelstein)
New York Times (A.O. Scott)
Within the trivial, ingratiating scope of its ambition, though, the sequel is pleasant enough. This is a picture that demands nothing of its audience, and not much more from its stars. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at New York Times (A.O. Scott)
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland (John Urbancich)
Extra-terrestrials conquer the movie if not planet Earth in “Men in Black II,” a film that proves how special effects and makeup master Rick Baker can overcome a lot of ills, particularly the lack of basic plot. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Sun Newspapers of Cleveland (John Urbancich)
Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)
Mediasharx (Dustin Gast)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
As summer escapism goes, you could do worse. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
cinEncanto (Pablo del Moral)
Sidekick Magazine
The Cincinnati Enquirer (Margaret A. McGurk)
The first Men in Black was a nearly perfect summer flick — fresh, zany and full of fun. The follow-up Men in Black II is — less so. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at The Cincinnati Enquirer (Margaret A. McGurk)
Moviola (Jorge G. Avila Andrade)
Boxoffice Magazine
Boxoffice Magazine
Boxoffice Magazine
Cinema 2000 (João Lopes)
www.filmrecensiepagina.nl (Wilko de Bruin)
Screen It! (Jim Judy)
While not horrible, Men in Black II simply isn't as much fresh, entertaining or imaginative fun as the original. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Screen It! (Jim Judy)
Lee's Movie Info (Craig Younkin)
Globe and Mail (Liam Lacey)
Instead of the fresh comic concept of the 1996 blockbuster, we have a calculated piece of product: a lightweight, occasionally laboured copycat skewed to a younger children's demographic to move the action figures and video sales. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Globe and Mail (Liam Lacey)
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
When a movie's strongest quality is a fantastic, original concept, a sequel can be something of a self-defeating proposition. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
Urban Tulsa Weekly (Cory Cheney)
'You’ll laugh for not quite and hour and a half, but come out feeling strangely unsatisfied. You’ll feel like you ate a Reeses without the peanut butter...' ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Urban Tulsa Weekly (Cory Cheney)
St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt (St. Paul))
Men in Black II is an efficient entertainment, but it's far from inspired. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt (St. Paul))
San Diego Union-Tribune (David Elliott)
Eye-filling but curiously joyless entertainment. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at San Diego Union-Tribune (David Elliott)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Carrie Rickey)
Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith are cool, so much so that cukes want to chill like Tommy Lee and Will. What's puzzling about Men in Black II, a sequel that has no compelling reason to exist, is how these cats maintain their cool in this tepid follow-up ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Carrie Rickey)
Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) (Judith Egerton)
Men in Black II doesn't replicate the blithely funny and hip attitude of the original. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) (Judith Egerton)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Duane Dudek)
There is something perfunctory about the enterprise that suggests everyone is in it for a payday, and perhaps this is the reason the sequel is never quite engaging. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Duane Dudek)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Duane Dudek)
There is something perfunctory about the enterprise that suggests everyone is in it for a payday, and perhaps this is the reason the sequel is never quite engaging. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Duane Dudek)
Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
When a movie's strongest quality is a fantastic, original concept, a sequel can be something of a self-defeating proposition. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) (Greg Maki)
The best thing about Men in Black II is the talking dog. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) (Greg Maki)
Matinee Magazine (Nick Schager)
Packed to the gills with stale gags and humdrum computer-enhanced action sequences. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Matinee Magazine (Nick Schager)
This is Lancashire (--)
Denver Post (Steven Rosen)
Returning director Barry Sonnenfeld and stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones try to give us more of the same. But staleness has replaced hipness. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Denver Post (Steven Rosen)
Denver Post (Steven Rosen)
Returning director Barry Sonnenfeld and stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones try to give us more of the same. But staleness has replaced hipness. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Denver Post (Steven Rosen)
Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Runs a quick 80 minutes and yet it still feels padded. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Carrie Rickey)
A lot of setup for too little payoff. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Carrie Rickey)
TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
The mercifully short running time is either a result of thin material or an attempt to be over before viewers start questioning how very generic what they are watching is. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (Jonathan R. Perry)
'The once-dynamic duo of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith phones it in - and a by-the-numbers script all but hands them the receiver.' ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (Jonathan R. Perry)
San Jose Mercury News (Bruce Newman)
MIB II hits its marks reliably enough. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at San Jose Mercury News (Bruce Newman)
Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones seem to be simply punching their time cards this time around. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
Los Angeles Daily News (Glenn Whipp)
This might just be the slightest $100-million-plus-budgeted movie in history. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Los Angeles Daily News (Glenn Whipp)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Steve Murray)
Here, director Barry Sonnenfeld continues to drift along with the same arrogant laziness that made his Wild Wild West worthy of inclusion in a time capsule honoring Hollywood's worst tentpole product. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Steve Murray)
Boston Globe (Wesley Morris)
No more than a soulless exercise in repetitive summer blockbusting. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Boston Globe (Wesley Morris)
Fantastica Daily (Mervius)
Chances are pretty good that you'll feel the same way about this movie as you did for Men in Black . If it's not particularly fresh, well, it's still pretty humorous. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Fantastica Daily (Mervius)
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) (Greg Maki)
The best thing about Men in Black II is the talking dog. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) (Greg Maki)
sbs.is (Stefan Birgir Stefansson)
The good (Tommy Lee Jones), the bad (Johnny Knoxville) and the ugly (CGI effects) ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at sbs.is (Stefan Birgir Stefansson)
Hollywood Stock Brokerage & Resource (Tim Chandler)
It all adds up to mediocrity. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Hollywood Stock Brokerage & Resource (Tim Chandler)
Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
A talking bulldog named Frank steals the show. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
The Movie Insider (Kyle Smith)
Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
On the positive side, the four Worm Guys haven't lost their squiggly charm, and Rip Torn is always welcome as MIB mastermind Zed. On the minus side, you get two Johnny Knoxvilles, one of them a tiny head that protrudes from the big one's shoulder. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
A business-as-usual blockbuster blueprint that rarely surprises you. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
The Onion (A.V. Club) (Scott Tobias)
None of it sticks, but with the door left open for a third Men In Black movie, the one advantage of forgetting everything is not knowing exactly what's coming two summers from now. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at The Onion (A.V. Club) (Scott Tobias)
Cinema em Cena (Pablo Villaça)
Christian Science Monitor
Scott's Movie Reviews (Scott Mantz)
Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
Fresno Bee (Donald Munro)
There's a polite, distant, strained sensibility to this inevitable sequel. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Fresno Bee (Donald Munro)
Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
Three Movie Buffs (Scott Nash)
Detroit News (Susan Stark)
Filmtracks (Christian Clemmensen)
Cinema in Focus (Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin)
Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Suffers from a fatal lack of purpose. This sleek, visually inventive but frustratingly flat movie is made up entirely of throwaway bits -- occasionally amusing, even ingenious bits. But still, they're just bits. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
TV Guide (Maitland McDonagh)
To his eternal credit, Jones gives his considerable all and even coaxes a startling note of poignancy from one scene, while Smith just bops along, lobbing gags and grinning at the special effects. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at TV Guide (Maitland McDonagh)
Creative Loafing (Matt Brunson)
There are a few laughs and clever sight gags scattered about, but not enough to make this anything more than another big-budget bust. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Creative Loafing (Matt Brunson)
Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)
MIB II is a movie that makes it possible for the viewer to doze off for a few minutes or make several runs to the concession stand and/or restroom and not feel as if he or she has missed anything. That's because relatively nothing happens. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Todd Anthony)
The humor isn't as sharp, the effects not as innovative, nor the story as imaginative as in the original. But it could have been worse. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Todd Anthony)
Rotten Tomatoes - Reviews from the Nation's Top Critics
Reuniting director Barry Sonnenfeld with most of the original hit film's cast, MEN IN BLACK II picks up with alien-monitoring secret agent Jay (Will Smith) in a rut. Weary of the isolated life of an MiB operative, Jay continually fires new partners ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Rotten Tomatoes - Reviews from the Nation's Top Critics
DVD Talk (Holly E. Ordway)
Flipside Movie Emporium (Rob Vaux)
The BigScreen Cinema Guide - Reader Reviews
Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are back, fighting the bugs that threaten our planet... as the Men in Black. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at The BigScreen Cinema Guide - Reader Reviews
Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Boston Globe (Wesley Morris)
There's something wrong with this picture, and the problem is there on Smith's face -- Smith looks distressingly I-was-an-Oscar-nominee bored. That goes double for Jones. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Boston Globe (Wesley Morris)
DigitalVD.de (Patrick Fiekers)
ToxicUniverse.com (John Beachem)
Portland Oregonian (Shawn Levy)
For all its bells and whistles, only when it lingers on Jones' dry wit and pained, rheumy eyes does this film about aliens ever seem alive, let alone human. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Portland Oregonian (Shawn Levy)
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
Sonnenfeld didn't shoot for the moon, and he didn't hit the stars. He shot for the safety net of repetition and he hit the tragically ordinary. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
A good-faith attempt has been made to duplicate the original elements, but the mix is wrong, bearings have been lost, the balance is off. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
Movie Marshal (Paul Boschen)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Men in Black II is one of those sequels that you'll probably like if you really liked the first chapter, but won't if you didn't. It delivers the goods in the humor and special effects, which are the main reasons that the first film was such a success. Th ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Orlando Weekly (Steve Schneider)
Whether verbal or visual, most of the few decent gags the sequel contains were already told twice in the original. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Orlando Weekly (Steve Schneider)
Orlando Weekly (Steve Schneider)
Whether verbal or visual, most of the few decent gags the sequel contains were already told twice in the original. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Orlando Weekly (Steve Schneider)
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
Sonnenfeld didn't shoot for the moon, and he didn't hit the stars. He shot for the safety net of repetition and he hit the tragically ordinary. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
A disappointment. A good-faith attempt has been made to duplicate the original elements, but the mix is wrong, bearings have been lost, the balance is off. It was attitude that made "Men in Black" special, a particular kind of cool insouciance that has ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
LA Weekly (Chuck Stephens)
Smith and Jones sometimes have to paddle hard to keep their heads above the toilet water in which screenwriters Robert Gordon (Galaxy Quest) and Barry Fanaro (Kingpin) occasionally dunk them. But if the presence of Smith and Jones is indeed the ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at LA Weekly (Chuck Stephens)
Salon.com (Jeff Stark)
Here's an idea: Let's just take that same gizmo-packed alien-attack buddy-flick blockbuster from the summer of '97 ... and make it ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Salon.com (Jeff Stark)
Jam! Movies (Bruce Kirkland)
Just entertaining enough not to hate, too mediocre to love. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Jam! Movies (Bruce Kirkland)
Feo Amante (Kelly Parks)
As much as it hurts me to say it, this party sucked. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Feo Amante (Kelly Parks)
Feo Amante (Kelly Parks)
As much as it hurts me to say it, this party sucked. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Feo Amante (Kelly Parks)
TV Guide's Movie Guide (Maitland McDonagh)
Orlando Sentinel (Jay Boyar)
Although the sequel has all the outward elements of the original, the first film's lovely flakiness is gone, replaced by the forced funniness found in the dullest kiddie flicks. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Orlando Sentinel (Jay Boyar)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
The astonishing success of the original "MiB" was partly because it was fun, partly because it was unexpected. We'd never seen anything like it, while with MiBII, we've seen something exactly like it. ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Mark Reviews Movies (Mark Dujsik)
That Cow (Andrew Bradford)
AboutFilm.com (Carlo Cavagna)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Some sequels continue a story. Others repeat it. ''Men in Black II'' creates a new threat for the MIB, but recycles the same premise, which is that mankind can defeat an alien invasion by assigning agents in Ray-Bans to shoot them into goo. This is a movi ...read the complete Men in Black II movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Xiibaro Productions (David Perry)
User Reviews
by David A. Smith "T... on November 04, 2009
mib 2 is just as sweet as the first one. this movie rocks. i recomend this movie for ...
by Craig Connell on March 20, 2009
This sequel to a popular first film was a pleasant surprise to me. In fact, I think I like this better than the original, much better. Why? Well.....
1 - It is extremely entertaining and just an hour-and-half long; 2 - It has a much softer edge to it ...
by Brad Lloyd "Noir ... on September 03, 2008
The first movie is special and one of a kind, but MIB II is still extemely funny and I cannot wait for MIB III ...
by L Gontzes on February 19, 2007
A very good comedy, Men in Black II picks up four years after the first movie left off, and continues to shed light on Earth's finest agents. This time the arrival of an unexpected guest from outer space will rock their world...
Tommy Lee Jones, Will ...
This movie is about two men who must stop aliens from attacking the earth.They are funny and couragousat the same time.I thought the show was exciting because two men fighting aliens.I would recommend this show Men In BlackU because very funny movie. ...
by Wally on November 20, 2006
Personally, I hated the first MiB film. Which makes me wonder why I even bothered watching the sequel, but I'm glad I did. ...
by Lori Guess on August 18, 2006
Smith & Jones make a fabulous duo. Lara Flynn Boyle is marvelous in her role as bad girl. The timing of all the actors is impeccable. The jokes never stop, and many of them are shoulder-shakingly funny. ...
by Joel Goodsen on February 25, 2006
Anyone trying to bash this movie is wrong. If you are considering buying or watching the movie... DO IT! They could make 10 Men in Blacks and as long as Tommy Lee and Will Smith are paired together, you'd find me at the theater. They ar fantastic ...
by Alex K "Catman" on February 19, 2006
This movie is so cool and funny! It's even better than the first of the MIB movies! It follows an alien named Serleena who takes on the form of Lara Flynn Boyle. She's on Earth because she wants a light device that will help her planet and race thrive. ...
by tallicAgrl on March 14, 2004
i love will smith! and this movie kicks ass!! =D
even ur grandma will enjoy it! i highly recommend tis to u! (yep the one who is reading this right now). it's a movie u must ...
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