Walker accurately pinpoints how character chemistry can anchor even the most absurd spectacle, turning a CGI-heavy film into a timeless classic. It’s a sharp reminder that technical innovation is meaningless without a human pulse at its center.
Deep Dive
Prerequisite Knowledge
- No data available.
Where to go next
- No data available.
Deep Dive
Men in Black - Nostalgia CriticAdded:
This episode brought to you by Prize Picks. It's good to be right. We're coming to California, everybody. Come see us at SoCal Gaming Expo in Pasadena June 6th to 7th. Hope to see you there.
Hello, I'm the Nostalgia Critic. I remember it so you don't have to. Let's take a look at the first of two great comedies, Men in Black, which came out a mere 15 years before its follow-up, Men in Black 3, which is an odd name for a second film. In fact, weren't there more?
>> No, there weren't.
>> Hi. I don't think we've met on the Nostalgia, Greg. I remember it. So, you don't have to kind of remember what I was talking about. Do you?
>> You were saying how Men in Black is one of only two good special effects comedies.
>> That's true. Men in Black is one of only two good special effects comedies.
Agreed. though. Again, I feel like there's been more over the years. Hey, anyone else remember the days of the week?
>> No, but you remember Men in Black being a breath of fresh air in a time of awful summer films.
>> That's a good point. Men in Black was a breath of fresh air at a time of awful summer films. Cementing Will Smith as a permanent Hollywood icon. Cementing Will Smith as a permanent Hollywood icon.
Except for that one thing. It was the Oscars. I think I recall him using the break in case of emergency Bad Boy sequel.
Oh, hi. I'm the Nostalgia guy.
As I was saying, there's only two men in black movies, and they're still great.
One of a kind.
I've mentioned before what I consider the dark age of summer movies between 1996 and 2001. The reason was mainly because we got too excited about the possibilities of CG effects and exploited this new technology over actual humanity. Can't think of any modern comparisons there. However, there were notably a few exceptions, and in 1997, Men in Black was one of them. The minute you saw Will Smith next to Tommy Lee Jones in those black suits and shades, people immediately related to how silly, but also pretty cool it came across. Nowadays, there's a lot more successful comedies that have big effects. But back then, it was really only this and Ghostbusters that seem to balance the two in both an imaginative but also cleverly funny way. Not to say no other effect comedies before didn't work, but none won over as many people on both a critical and box office level.
It came out at just the right time with just the right people, and we're going to look at how it pulled it off. So, let's see what made this movie stand out.
Hey, that reminds me. Are you two responsible for people forgetting movies they literally just saw?
>> No, >> that's just current Hollywood.
>> Oh, let's take a look at Men in Black.
The film opens with credits I originally thought was a ripoff of Doctor Strange Love or The M's Family credits, but seeing how this is my first time watching it not on VHS, I'm only now noticing their constellations. Thanks, Blu-ray.
I dig Andy Elman's music, too, which doesn't have like an amazing theme, but it's just cool.
It kind of sounds like the Peter Gun theme if he was trying to pull off a heist, but the car's bass was too loud.
It surprisingly kind of works.
>> God damn bugs.
>> We see a truck of illegal immigrants trying to sneak across the border. Wow.
Don't know how I missed those bright lights right in front of me. And they're found out.
>> Ah, young old Tommy Lee Jones.
>> Who the hell are you? INS Division 6.
Division 6? I never heard of Division 6.
>> It's a spin-off of IC. We'll use our usual protocol.
Okay. This is Lakara. This is Agent K, who once he finds the immigrant pretending to speak Spanish, tells the others to go while he chats with him.
>> I'm going to bet dollars to pesos.
You're not from anywhere near here.
>> A DUDE, HE WAS GERMAN. HE WAS JUST LAUGHING TO BE NICE.
>> MIKEY, >> I love how most of the languages in this sound like Java gargling Greo. Speaking of Star Wars, how about some of these inconsistent effects?
So, okay, for 1997, this CGI was okay.
And to director Perry Sonfeld's credit, he tried to have most of the effects be practical, but moments like headquarters looking a little too empty, and the bug animatronic breaking down forced him to use more CGI than he intended. Again, for 1997, it's not quite as distracting as you would think. Give me a spllay burn around the perimeter with holes at 40, 60, and 80 m. K uses a neuralizer to wipe the memories of the Rangers, which I personally think is one of the cooler and more inventive movie props in recent cinema. And he introduces new memories.
The underground gas vein genius. You fellas need to exercise a lot more caution before discharging your firearms. I'll tell you that right now.
Especially you.
>> It looks like a smurf PSA out here. When this partner fails to pull his weight, though, they both know what's next for him.
>> They're beautiful, aren't they?
>> What? The stars. We never just look anymore.
>> Tell me about the space rabbits. Hey, I will miss the chase. No, D, you won't.
>> Kad Officer James, played by Will Smith, chasing a criminal.
>> You're under arrest for really phoned in gun effects. The criminal manages to escape and makes his way to the Guggenheim Museum, which I'm just assuming the film's indicating he was an alien. That's why aliens can climb his work so easily. But James catches up with him.
>> He's coming. You just pissing everybody off today, huh?
What the hell are you?
>> And what Seth Green poster did you see when you clearly took his image?
>> He jumps off the building and we cut to the doom. He's talking about arriving to Earth.
>> It looks like poison. Don't you take that away. I'm eating that. Damn it. It is poison, isn't it?
>> Anyone else? Always start off the scene saying, "All right, where's that flying ship?" There it is.
>> The only thing that pulls its weight around here is my godamn truck.
Vincent Dinario plays Edgar, a farmer who discovers the crash ship outside his house.
>> Police, projectile weapon on the ground.
>> You can have my gun.
>> As long as you name it, Charlene.
>> I mean, he did say, "Please." The alien, simply known as the bug, learns what it's like to walk a day in Edgar's skin.
Give me sugar and water.
He falls over dead. Turns out she was poisoning him after she figures out what's going on and passes out. By the way, I'm only now noticing the cow never gets spooked by all this weird Maybe she's seen weirder stuff in other galaxies. Kay questions James about the alien he encountered.
>> He said the world was coming to an end.
>> Did he say when I'm not the only one that felt like they held on that joke way too long, right, man? This No Way Home Infinity War. Does everything have to have one joke that holds too long?
>> When they try to figure out where the disappearing gun came from, they go to a store owner named Jeves, played by Tony Shaloo.
>> Hi, K. How are you?
>> Showing the imports right now.
>> Hold on a second.
>> I'm going to count to three.
>> Take a crew that drop the weapon and put your hands on your head.
>> I warned it.
>> He warned him. The bug said, "Please, I think everyone's being civilized." He of course reveals that he's an alien and that he sold alien technology. Before James can get a handle on what's going on though, his memory is wiped.
>> Who are you?
>> You need to lay off the sauce. I'll see you bright and early 9:00.
>> Oh, excuse me. You forgot to pay your bills.
>> He shows up for a test led by Zed, played by Riptor, to see which one of them will move on to be in this elite government agency, even if they don't know exactly what that elite government agency is. James seems to be the only one though to go against the grain. He even says the aliens in the shooting gallery didn't pose a threat because they're not doing anything. But this little white girl in the middle of the city at night with quantum physics books is up to something.
>> 8-year-old white girl middle of the ghetto with quantum physics books. Those books are way too advanced for her. If you ask me, I'd say she's up to something.
>> I love the fact that you would have taken out all the kids and adventures in babysitting.
>> James is the only one who makes it in as again he's shown the truth. There are around 1500 aliens on the planet.
>> They're just trying to make a living.
>> Cab drivers.
>> Oh, not as many as you'd think.
>> Didn't you see the critic that just sent the ones not from another country overseas? I know variations of this line have existed for a while, but man is it summed up here so well.
>> Quite a big secret. People are smart.
They can handle it. A person is smart.
People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals. And you know it.
>> If that were true, the media would be exploiting if they're on personal gain.
You know where I'm going with this. Kate tells them to think it over. And one of the things I like about this film is you get what everybody is about pretty fast.
You don't need to know everybody's backstory or their childhood or their relationships, just the way they interact off each other or even just sit alone. You immediately understand what they're like. And that's from tight writing and good acting. Though I will say occasionally there's a joke I don't follow like when he says yes to being a men in black. What is this moment about?
>> You want to stay away from that guy.
He's uh he's grouchy. three-hour delay in custom. 17 trillion miles going to make anybody pranky. You know what I mean?
>> It's not a big deal. It's just there's such a long pause there. I feel like there's a joke I'm missing. I'm just going to say it's a black guy touching an alien's hair without permission. I don't know if that's it, but I need something.
>> This is fascinating little gadget. It's going to replace CDs soon as I'll have to buy the white album again.
>> Yeah, clearly more physical media is in our future.
>> James accidentally knocks loose an alien device.
>> This thing caused the 1977 New York blackout.
>> Then why'd you leave it where anyone can touch it? practical joke by the great attractor. He thought it was funny as hell.
>> Also, that's apparently a very smart joke. I'm too dumb to follow it. So, here's the wiki if you want to try.
>> Meet the twins and Bob.
>> After a funny bit where he shown some of the people who are aliens, including James, third grade teacher, >> be quiet and pay attention.
>> THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN funnier if it said West Philadelphia, born and raised.
They get James suited up and change his name to J. Yet, do they pick people by the first letter of their name and then look at what letters in the alphabet they don't have? Maybe that's why some of the agents get neuralized in these films. They just run out of letters to hand out.
>> Unlimited technology from the whole universe and we cruise around in a Ford Pos.
>> After he's introduced to their ride, again, not the best effect.
Those people out there sure were walking fast, weren't they? The bug follows an alien prince on his way for lurch lunch.
You can kill us both, but you will not find the galaxy.
>> Right about one thing.
>> Oh no, he stabbed him in the neck even though the aliens are up here. Maybe he stabbed their life support. I don't know.
>> He talks with an alien who seems to be leaving the planet in a hurry.
>> Where you going, Reggie? Well, look.
>> Oh, okay. No big deal.
>> Got to love this alien technology that says if the camera doesn't see it, the characters don't see it. In again, one of the faker but still pretty funny moments. Jay assists the lady in giving birth.
>> Look. Oh man.
>> Didn't I punch you in the last movie I was in?
>> Well, I'm going to now.
Basketball. What do we know about it?
Well, we know it was created by alien cabbages. This is science.
Also, it's basketball season. No, not like a rabbit season, duck season where a basketball and baseball are pointing guns at each other. And I know that's what the alien cabbages want you to believe. No, no, it's the playoffs, idiot. And there's no better way to cash in on high-flying hoops action than prize picks, a preferred partner of the NBA. Every bucket, every dime, and every win means more when you're playing on prize picks. Do it live 2026 NBA Final Sweepstakes. Pick live squares during the NBA playoffs and you could win a trip for two to the NBA finals. To enter, you just make a $5 lineup with at least one live NBA player pick during any part of the 2026 NBA playoffs. In case you don't know, live player picks are picks made after a game is already in progress. Some of the things I like most is how easy it is to get started and how available it is everywhere, idiot. I got to stop saying that. I mean, you just pick more or less on two to six player stat projections and if you get your picks right, you could cash in. Pick from all your favorite sports.
Anything from NBA, baseball, hockey, UFC, soccer, college basketball, tennis, golf, esports, and more. You can get in on the action because Prize Picks is available in all 50 states, including California, Texas, Florida, and Georgia.
What else do we know about basketball?
Well, we know it's a horse facts. Horse facts. My favorite feature about prize picks is the early payouts. If your player gets off to a hot start, you now have the option to cash out those winnings before the game even finishes.
It's so tasty, too. Tastes just like candy.
My god. Download the prize pick app today and use the code nostalgia to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code nostalgia to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Prize Pix, a preferred partner of the NBA.
They hear from the actual news about the bug taking Edgar's body.
>> These are the hot sheets. Best investigator reporting on the planet.
>> Get the feeling a lot of people are seeing that as actual news now.
>> You here to make fun of me, too?
>> No, ma'am. We at the FBI do not have a sense of humor we're aware of.
>> And I love this bit where Jay spits out the lemonade because you can either say it's because she really was a bad cook or maybe just because Edgar took all the sugar.
>> Did he say anything?
>> He asked me for some water. Sugar water.
>> Sugar water. They put together what's going on and they make their way to the morg where the body of the alien prince is. The mortician named Laurel, played by Linda Florentino, notices many things are off, but not as off as a random comes.
>> You have really pretty eyes.
>> Thank you.
>> Instant chemistry.
>> You know what I like to do sometimes when it's really late?
>> No.
>> Dr. White, >> what were they trying to do with this character? Maybe if they made her more geeky or awkward, I could follow along a little bit. But she's acting like she'd be one of those people eyeing comeomaos bodies and kill Bill.
They discover the human body was actually a robot. And while this is a pretty funny image, the emotion of the moment and combination of practical and CGI effects actually makes it kind of heartbreaking. Florentino even asked after the shoot, is he coming back?
>> The galaxy is often Orions.
about his word.
>> Orion's belt.
>> Everybody's performance really sells this silly yet dramatic scene. Even the cat.
>> I know it sounds crazy, but there are layers to that meow.
>> I knew it. This is an alien, and you guys are from some government agency trying to keep it under wraps. A lot of critics at the time really like that Laurel put together what was going on and who these people were because you just didn't see that so often in films at the time. Again, these were some of the big movies coming out >> and this guy was >> they still end up wiping her memory as they try to see what the prince meant by the galaxy is on Orion's belt. Kay also has a free moment, so porn it is. Nah, I'm kidding. It's just good oldfashioned cyberstalking.
Ah, that great feeling of knowing I never want a man in my life.
>> So, what she ever get married or anything?
>> No.
>> This leads to another great line when Jay puts together the two of them used to be a couple.
>> It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
>> Try it.
>> Why? You will again in a couple years.
Stupid sequel.
A battle cruiser threatens the earth because of the dead prince. So, they go to an informant in a kind of predictable but still pretty funny bit.
>> Now, that's the worst disguise ever.
That guy's definitely an alien.
>> You don't like it, you can kiss my furry little butt.
>> Taco Bell saw this and said, "Okay, which of us can overuse this more.
>> Can't talk right now. My flight's leaving."
>> What do you know?
>> I know nothing.
>> Not a thing.
>> Honestly, this scene is so odd. It's kind of amazing. For all the talk of Tommy Lee Jones being a sour puss, which I do believe, he apparently wanted a lot more silly moments for his character and laughed a lot on set both during the coffee scene and during this scene, which you can actually see him starting to break at one point.
>> THE GALAXY IS HERE.
>> GALAXY'S hundreds of millions of stars and planets.
>> Tiny, like the size of a marble or a jewel.
>> They put together Orion is the cat and the belt is his collar that holds the tiny galaxy. Unfortunately, the bug figures this out, too.
>> A man came in here earlier. He had an animal with him. A pet cat. It means worlds to me. I'd like to have it back.
>> So, Denafhrio is either going to be your thing in this movie or he's not. Yeah, it is a little bit of just one running joke, but the skin effects continuing to rock combined with his physical performance. I really do believe there's an alien squished into there who's uncomfortable as hell and wants to break out.
>> Notorized proof of kinship with the deceased.
>> Don't do that.
Do what? Sorry I was in all three of these. I just enjoy killing things. Now >> if you go in there, you going to let your Jack Web on her start flashing your brain ray all in her face. You're going to wind up with leukemia or some >> I do like how Jay mocks K calling him Jack Webb, then ends up calling himself Sergeant Friday.
>> I'm Sergeant Friday from the 26th precinct.
>> However, he doesn't catch on that the bug is holding Laurel hostage.
>> Maybe you could take me with you instead.
>> Damn, you do start fast, don't you?
>> There's something I need to show you.
>> Slow down, girl. You ain't got to hit the gas like that.
>> I mean, did you see her earlier scene?
She would act this way.
>> The bug grabs the galaxy and Laurel and manages to escape.
>> He's in a cab.
>> I have to give credit. That's two camp jokes this movie has, and they both surprisingly work. When they figure out he's going to use the ships from the World's Fair to escape, our heroes cut through the traffic to get there in time.
You know, you're much too tense. You're a young man. You need to relax.
>> Is it weird to say? I can only think of be Kyrie White. Now, whenever I see this scene, >> you do know Elvis is dead, right? No, Elvis is not dead. He just went home.
>> Don't believe what the movie says. That as well as directed by an alien.
>> That's just so cool.
>> I'm a very important person on my planet. like a twig.
>> It wasn't until I got to this point that I realized the actual story about the aliens starting a war is kind of weak and seems to take place in the background, which you could argue is the point. It's all supposed to be secret.
But I realized I never did question until now. Why does the bug want the galaxy?
>> I'm just letting you know it could start a war.
>> Good war. That means more FOOD FOR MY FAMILY, ALL 78 million of them.
>> Oh, is that the reason? Not the most interesting motivation, but okay. Not everything cut down was bad. Like this line that was in all the advertisements.
>> You know how to use these things? No idea whatsoever.
>> That and Grouchy. What am I missing? I never got either of those jokes. Laurel fights so much he leaves her behind. But before he can get away, our heroes shoot down THE SHIP.
>> YOU IDIOT. YOU DON'T GET IT. I'VE WON.
YOU DON'T MATTER. IN FACT, IN A FEW SECONDS, YOU WON'T even be mad. He's turning into Jim Car's Grinch.
>> I'll put MY HANDS ON ON MY HEAD.
>> I COULD HANG MYSELF with all the bad Christmas neckties I found at the dump.
>> The bug finally reveals his final form, eating their guns, which Kay tries to retrieve.
>> Shade me.
EAT ME.
K.
HEY, TO BE FAIR, these movies did try to get rid of him a lot. Jake tries to fight the bug, but nothing seems to work until he finds other roaches in the garbage.
>> That's your uncle then, huh? You know, y'all all look alike.
>> That's racist.
>> Don't stop nothing. Won't be none.
>> In the climax, it's not super exciting, but more exciting than a debate off. All right. Kate laughs it way free and Laurel takes care of the leftovers. What an interesting job you guys have.
>> Care if I pretend to be interested in that reake stupid sequel.
>> Speaking of which case, as she should be Jay's new partner as his time has finally come to an end. I >> haven't been training a partner. I've been training a replacement.
Days, months, years.
>> The amount of people in the theater when I first saw this going, "No, oh no."
Really is a sign of the chemistry these two had and how well the movie was working. I also like throughout the whole film he calls Jay several different youngster names to piss him off, but he finally calls him by his name when he says goodbye. He's finally earned that respect.
>> See you around, Jay. No, you won't.
>> You're going to the asylum. We put the other agents. Turns out this thing really does cause brain damage. He reunites with his loved one. Laurel joins the team, and it's an all-around perfect ending. Stupid sequel.
>> Let's put in a call to Dennis Rodman.
He's from that planet.
>> Not much of A DISGUISE. THIRD ROCK DID IT.
He wraps up showing our galaxy as well as the size of a tiny marble. And all right, this is back when songs based on movies were kind of cool. A part of me sees why these aren't around anymore.
As I think Simpsons summed it up best when they had a rap song for a Zoro movie, >> but that is part of their charm. I think everyone who listens to it likes it.
Such a corny time capsule that's light and having a good time.
>> And yeah, I think that about sums it up.
It's a light but good time.
Okay. Yes, like I said, the story is technically a little weak, but the creativity, humor, and chemistry from the actors more than makes up for it.
The Men in Black movies have had their ups and downs, but I do give credit in a franchise where you could focus on being more cool than funny. They usually try to go for the jokes first. And even when it does try to be cool, it does so in its own weird, wacky, silly way that helps it stand out. All these years later, we've seen other special effects comedy succeed. But at a time when that just wasn't the norm, this was a galaxy of laughs that delivered something that for 1997 was comedically out of this world.
So overall, it still seemed to hold up.
Yeah, maybe we didn't need the neuralizer after all. Yeah, you'll give people enough credit to be entertaining.
You just got to be passionate, creative, and think outside the box. Might be an idea.
>> Maybe we can take the neuralizers out of everybody's phones.
>> What? You have them in our phones?
>> Sure, we can make you forget that we even mentioned that.
>> I don't know. I think I remember all the crazy you've done.
>> There's a new live action Moana trailer.
>> YOU'RE KIDDING. OH MY GOD, it looks so bad.
>> Does the internet have anything to say about it?
>> It's funny you say there's a ton of comments here. OH MY GOD, THIS GUY SUMMED IT UP SO GOOD. OH, THIS LADY HAS A REAL FUNNY OPINION. HEY, LOOK, A NOSTALGIA CRAIG VIDEO. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I made that yet.
>> You know what I like to do sometimes when it's really late?
>> I'm still doing cameos for charity. And this year, I'm still going to keep the charity solve ME/CFS. For those who aren't aware, I have chronic fatigue syndrome I got two years ago. And while it is slowly getting better, I don't have it nearly as bad as other people do. It can definitely take its toll and have an impact on many things. Needless to say, it spiked big after co. A lot more people got it and there's still not much known about it. But organizations like this are finding out more and more and discovering how to treat people with it. So, if you want a cameo of me saying happy birthday or good luck or whatever, click on the link below and be giving to a good cause. If you're like, "No, you're an anus and I don't like you."
Well, consider giving to this organization anyway. They work long and hard to figure out as much as they can with a disease we've barely scratched the surface of. So please consider coming together to help them help many more.
Related Videos
TailorShop (2021) - An Award-Winning Short Film
gsp222
149 views•2026-06-04
Fouchon is Defeated | Hard Target
ActionPicks
4K views•2026-05-28
It Takes Two 💞
barefootandindependent
1K views•2026-05-31
Supply and demand, my friend. #movie #edit #shorts
gaskinpenton
11K views•2026-05-28
Dark Shadows | Victoria Arrives at Collinwood to Apply as a Governess
EthanVortex-u2x
318 views•2026-05-28
🎬 Across the Line (2000) 4K | Brad Johnson Neo-Western Thriller 🔥 | Crime & Border Justice
BabelWestern
734 views•2026-05-30
An Anime For Every Letter In LGBTQIA
KrisPNatz
2K views•2026-05-31
Mark Kermode reviews Tuner
kermodeandmayostake
2K views•2026-05-28











