Men In Black: International/Shaft/Aladdin

Men In Black: International

Admittedly this is the most unnecessary sequel of the summer. It's been 22 years since the only MIB movie anyone really liked or remembers. But this sequel/reboot is better than either of the previous sequels. It's breezy fun. Credit goes largely to the appeal of stars Chris Hemsworth and especially Tessa Thompson. I wish it were actually funny though. So much of the humor here really falls flat. It's more a pleasant diversion than anything. I highly doubt this will reignite the franchise.

Shaft

I have no idea why it took nearly 20 years to get another Samuel L. Jackson Shaft movie. The last one was really good. This one is not as good. It's a little better than the incredibly bland trailers indicated though. This one is much more of a straight cop buddy comedy, with Shaft teaming up with his far from streetwise son. I don't get why Jessie Usher would once again be cast as the charisma-free son of a far more charismatic actor after he was so boring in Independence Day: Resurgence. He's not even THAT bad here, but he's obviously being set up to be the new Shaft lead, and I'm sorry, but that's never happening.

Aladdin

The best so far of these Disney live action remakes. I've never been much of a Guy Ritchie fan, but his style really fits this movie well. It's like night and day after the dark, lifeless Dumbo. This movie has a ton of color and energy and life. Will Smith is terrific as the genie, and I could never get tired of Naomi Scott, who had to have been created in a lab.

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