One of my all time favorites.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

***SPOILERS*** The movie has to do with a family the Wilsons Bob Dez and 12 year old son Andy, Eric Roberts Sherilyn Fenn & Brendon Ryan Barrett, who when driving home from a hiking trip in the mountains encounter a 100 foot UFO that forces them off the road and into a ditch. It's some two hours later that they find themselves back on the highway with the car or van in working order with no memory of the two hours of missing time. Strange things start to happen to the Wilson's when these strange men in black, black hats sunglasses pants suits shoes as well as socks, lead by this guy who calls himself Perkins, Andrew Prine, show up at the house asking them what happened to them as if they really care. It turns out that these Men in Black-MIB-are only interested in shutting the Wilsons up and keeping them from making public their encounter with the UFO, which Andy secretly video taped with his camcorder, even if they have to murder them in doing it! Bob Wilson now trying to get help gets in touch with top UFO investigator and author Stan Mills, Dean Stockwell, to fill him in about these strange MIB and what to do to get rid them if not with words, the local police aren't any help, or if necessary the use of force. Staying at Stan Mills bunker like home the Wilsons as well as Mills are soon confronted with some two dozen MIB in black driving of course, their favorite color, black SUV's trying to storm the place and, to keep them from talking, murder them.***SPOILERS*** The usual tame MIB's are a bit more aggressive here then you would expect them to be using military tactics to get things done thus messing up their neatly press black clothes by getting both gun and pellet, from shotgun, shots from Stan Mills and the Wilsons ripping them to shreds. We also get to see these what turned out to be half bred-human and aliens-for what they really are with black bug eyes, under their sunglasses, and this is really strange white soap suds like blood when their shot or battered. the film's star Eric Roberts dose some of his best acting in it by not being the usual psychotic personality that he seems to be playing in most of his movies but a normal well adjusted as well as, in the movies finial scenes, heroic person. One of the better UFO and alien from space movies with the MIB-Men in Black-taking center stage and showing themselves for the scary and dangerous and creepy persons that they really are.

This film, although it is full of movie clichés ufology, is only dealing with the theme "MIBs" with the seriousness it is due. Skeptics to be excused, but those who study ufology know there many reports in the world about the presence of these mysterious beings in lives of those who had contact with aliens. The film makes a useful counterpoint MIB series of movies (Men in Black I, II and III success box office in theaters) where they are treated as the "good guys" of history. Coincidence or not the film that treats them as villains had little or no visibility, even having been released in the same year first MIB Will Smith.

It would be interesting to compare this one to Men in Black. (the will smith film.) This was more like what I've heard real life stories of encounters with MIB agents is like. Decent cast, too, with Eric Roberts, Dean Stockwell, and Andrew Prine. Slow and dark at times, but worth the rental if just to satisfy your curiosity. Give it a try.** 1/2 out of ****

Overall, I was impressed by a number of things. Good casting, pretty good writing, some fine acting from Fenn, Roberts and Stockwell. The lead MIB was well done indeed! Really captures the heart of MIB lore - these folks really did their research (a rarity with these kinds of films, as you know). It's just too bad that this kind of film doesent deserve a larger budget. I give it a solid B!