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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 15 June 2019

‘Men in Black’ returns, a little worse for wear

By JAKE COYLE perpetuated beyond their Thompson and Hemsworth
Associated Press natural end with the hope to be what they are: top-
Would any fictional gadget that you remember them notch movie stars. “Men
be more coveted by Holly- enough to get you in the in Black: International”
wood executives than the door but not enough that doesn’t rekindle the origi-
memory-erasing “Men in you’re much bothered by nal’s fun, but it makes for a
Black” neuralyzer? Imag- regurgitated storylines. To minimally sufficient summer
ine the lucrative benefits of be honest, I don’t recall diversion since it at least
being able to, with a single much from the first three uses its flood of special-
flash, make moviegoers for- “Men in Black” films, all by effects not to drown out its
get the film they just saw. Barry Sonnenfeld, except leads but to elevate them.
Franchises would be end- the original’s light wit, the Thompson plays Molly, a
lessly renewable. IP could fine chemistry between young paranoid who has
last forever. the leads, Will Smith and been on the lookout for
Instead, we get film series Tommy Lee Jones, and the alien life forms since she
This image released by Sony Pictures shows Tessa Thompson was visited by a cuddly ex-
and Chris Hemsworth in a scene from Columbia Pictures’ “Men traterrestrial as a child and
in Black: International.” managed to elude the
Associated Press neuralyzer. Through cun-
likable premise that aliens tried out their rapport to- ning and pluck, she tracks
walk among us. gether in “Thor: Ragnarok.” down a Men in Black head-
The new “Men in Black: In- But it has a few things going quarters and talks her way
ternational” is the fourth film for it. In the 22 years since into a job after convincing
in the franchise and one of the original, the fate of the Emma Thompson’s Agent
those reboot-sequel-spinoff world has, at the multiplex, O, a holdover from 2012’s
hybrids. Exactly how it con- hung in the balance rough- “MIB3.”
nects to the previous three ly a billion times. But I still An eager new recruit,
movies is only so relevant, prefer the “Men in Black” dubbed Agent M, Molly
I suspect, in the hearts of mode of impending Arma- quickly partners with one
its makers. It’s just another geddon to the more self- of the agency’s top men,
one. serious superhero rescues. Agent H (Hemsworth), an
This time, F. Gary Gray, Here, it’s routine, happens arrogant but decorated
coming off another nev- all the time, nothing much agent whose swoon-wor-
er-ending franchise (“The to worry about. thiness extends to, it would
Fate of the Furious”), takes The end of the world is a seem, all the species of
over as director. Subbing breeze. the universe. He’s the most
for Smith and Jones are And I also can’t get my trusted agent of the orga-
Tessa Thompson and Chris ire up too much at a film nization overseen by High T
Hemsworth, who already that gives ample room for (Liam Neeson). q
Singer Steve Lawrence says he has

Alzheimer’s disease

Lawrence said he doesn’t
want pity or sympathy in re-
sponse to his diagnosis.
“I have lived and am liv-
ing a wonderful, joyous life
filled with love, support and
amazing moments,” he
said.The 83-year-old croon-
er is known for solo hits in-
cluding the ballad “Go
Away Little Girl” and as one
half of the 1960s pop duo
Steve and Eydie alongside
his wife, Eydie Gorme (gor-
MAY’), who died in 2013.
Lawrence and Gorme
helped keep alive the lega-
cy of the American Broad-
In this May 30,1998 file photo, singer Steve Lawrence and his
Eydie Gorme arrive at the black-tie gala called “Thanks Frank” way songbook at a time
honoring Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas. when rock became domi-
Associated Press nant. They were known for
By KATIE CAMPIONE ease. In a letter sent by his their frequent appearanc-
Associated Press spokesman Howard Brag- es on TV variety and talk
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Singer man, Lawrence confirmed shows, in night clubs, and
Steve Lawrence revealed the diagnosis, saying that on the stages of Las Vegas.
Tuesday that he has been he felt he needed to speak People magazine first re-
diagnosed with the early out in light of recent rumors ported the news of Law-
stages of Alzheimer’s Dis- and media inquiries. rence’s diagnosis.q