Common Sense Media Review
Bizarre creatures, some scares, and loads of fun.
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Why Age 12+?
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Men in Black II
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Based on 41 kid reviews
Kids say the sequel offers a blend of humor, action, and some scary moments, making it a fun watch, though it is perceived as less impressive compared to the original. However, many reviews note that it contains an excessive amount of sexual jokes and crude language, as well as some alien designs that are seen as cheesy, which could be off-putting for some viewers.
- humor
- action
- sexual content
- less impressive
- crude language
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
MEN IN BLACK II continues the adventures of Agent J (Will Smith), now a more seasoned member of the MIB. At the end of Men in Black, Agent J erased the memories of his partner, K (Tommy Lee Jones), so that K could return to a normal life. This film picks up as a scary-looking alien (disguised as a Victoria's Secret model and played by Lara Flynn Boyle) returns to Earth, and only K knows how to deal with her. J has to track K down, restore his memory, and work with him to save the planet.
Is It Any Good?
This sequel may not be quite as good as the original, but it's still loads of fun and pretty funny, with many imaginative creatures. It's hard for Men in Black II to live up to the first movie's near perfection, with a tone that was the essence of cool, on top of a satisfying story and spectacular special effects. But it's nice to see more women being added to the mix, even if they are objectified.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Men in Black II's violence. How did it make you feel? How much of it consists of special effects? Does the impact of movie violence change based on how realistic it is?
Why doesn't J want to erase Rita's memory in Men in Black II? Why is it important to find someone you can tell your real feelings to?
How do the characters demonstrate teamwork? Why is that an important character strength?
What do you think creatures from other planets might be like? Why does the way we think about them tell us more about us than it does about them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 3, 2002
- On DVD or streaming : May 13, 2003
- Cast : Lara Flynn Boyle , Tommy Lee Jones , Will Smith
- Director : Barry Sonnenfeld
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Aliens , Space
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sci-fi action violence and some provocative humor
- Award : Kids' Choice Award
- Last updated : March 4, 2026
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