--- title: "Men in Black II: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/men-in-black-ii/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/men-in-black-ii" critics_score: 49 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Men in Black II (2002): what the critics said Critics' score 49 from 10 reviews: 1 positive, 4 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews lean towards disappointment: most critics find Men in Black II short of the original’s freshness, wit and surprise. Praise clusters around individual jokes and creatures rather than the story or central partnership. Frank the Pug earns particular affection, while the alien designs and visual effects give even some dissatisfied critics something to enjoy. The more receptive reviews find enough silly humour and brisk entertainment to make the repetition tolerable. The main divide is over how far those scattered pleasures carry the film. Several critics describe the humour as dated or forced, and the harsher notices find the characters empty and the spectacle uninteresting. The Guardian goes further, finding that the leads’ chemistry has soured. Eye for Film supplies the clearest dissent, enjoying Will Smith and the offbeat jokes enough to accept a vague plot, leaving a broad spread between cheerful acceptance and marked dissatisfaction. ## Screen Daily — John Hazelton Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 2002. The page identifies this as John Hazelton’s review of the 2002 film. The review’s verdict and specific praise or complaints are unavailable in the visible text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/men-in-black-ii/409767.article) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2.5/4. 3 July 2002. The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. The available page text contains only a browser check. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/men-in-black-ii-2002) ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Errigo finds the sequel likable and amusing, but less funny or surprising than the original. She praises its wickedly silly jokes and especially the comic discovery in a train-station locker. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/men-black-2-review/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 3/5. 1 August 2002. The review finds the sequel watchable but forced and lacking the original’s wit, invention, and sparkle. Frank the Pug stands out as a lively comic highlight who helps rescue the film. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/men-in-black-ii-review/) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 2002. The critic finds the sequel disposable and cynical, though its brisk pace and gags provide mixed pleasures. He praises the parade of Rick Baker creatures and highlights David Cross’s cameo as especially terrific. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/men-in-black-ii-1798197661) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). The review suggests the sequel feels dated compared with the original. It singles out the sense that its once-fresh ideas now feel old. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/men-in-black-ii) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating 1.5/4. 26 June 2002. Gonzalez finds the film soulless, dated, and reliant on stale vaudeville spectacle. He singles out its empty characters and outdated jokes as particular weaknesses. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/men-in-black-ii/) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 24 June 2002. McCarthy finds the sequel sporadically amusing but lightweight, with its humor and attitude unable to sustain interest. He singles out Frank the pug as the film’s funniest presence, while praising the alien designs and visual effects. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2002/film/reviews/men-in-black-ii-1200547639/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2002. Bradshaw finds the sequel soulless and uninspired despite its frenetic action and occasional funny lines. He singles out the lack of interest in the spectacle and says the leads’ chemistry has curdled. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/jul/26/culture.reviews4) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2002. The critic finds the film fun and entertaining, with Will Smith’s performance and the script’s offbeat jokes standing out. The plot surrounding The Light is vague, but the review considers style more important. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/men-in-black-ii-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/men-in-black-ii.md