Entertainment
Peacock's #1 Movie Is A Blockbuster Sci-Fi Sequel
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
Sequels are tricky to get right, change too much and you lose the fans of the first film, but don’t change enough, and it feels like the same movie all over again. Men in Black 2 falls into the second category and was slammed by critics for not breaking away from the formula of the first film. What the critics failed to see, and what the public recognized, is that when the original is an instant classic, there’s nothing wrong with replaying the hits.
Here Come The Men In Black
Men in Black 2 picks up years after the original, with Agent J (Will Smith) cycling through partners, unable to find anyone as good as Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). The film brings the two together again to stop Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle) a shapeshifting alien from finding the latest McGuffin hiding on Earth. If it sounds similar to the first film’s Bug alien pursuing another MacGuffin hiding in a cat’s collar, that’s because it is, but the sequel does twist the formula a little bit.
The second time around, Agents J and K have to protect Laura (Rosario Dawson), who saw Serleena kill a Zarthan in cold blood, which is exactly the plot of the first movie, but this time, Serleena manages to infiltrate MiB HQ, which, in one of the most blatant product placement scenes of all time, includes a Burger King inside. Men in Black 2 lets fans see more of the headquarters and gives more screentime to the breakout stars of the original: the worms and Frank the Pug. The scene-stealing side characters and effortless chemistry between Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones help elevate the wafer-thin plot from a made for SyFy movie to a record-breaking Summer blockbuster.
From Record-Setting Blockbuster To Underappreciated Comedy
Men in Black 2 made history during its opening weekend by becoming the most successful Fourth of July release in history upon its release in 2002, knocking off Will Smith’s other big sci-fi film, Independence Day, by earning $87 million. The record soon fell in 2004 when Spider-Man 2 earned an extra million and brought in $88 million over the holiday weekend. Critics thought the film was only okay and gave it middle of the road reviews, but to the general public, the sci-fi spectacular was more evidence that Will Smith was the king of the Summer blockbuster.
Time has been kind to Men in Black 2 and it’s now fondly remembered as the popcorn film it was always meant to be, but especially after the franchise-killing performance of Men in Black International, the breezy charm of the first two films keeps finding fans. Men in Black III, with Josh Brolin as a young Agent K, is the even rarer threequel that continues the hot streak of the franchise, but it sidelines Tommy Lee Jones in the process, leaving only the first two films as what fans think of as the definitive MiB experience. Though the tone and humor have since been co-opted by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, no one can touch the raw star power of Will Smith from the early-00’s.
Men in Black 2, 21 years after its original release, became Peacock’s top streaming movie, which is impressive for any film old enough to drink, but especially one from a franchise that has been considered dead and buried for the last six years. The enduring appeal of Will Smith among the general public, even post-slap, can not be denied, and this is one more example of why he was the King of the Summer Blockbuster for an entire generation.
Men in Black II is now streaming on Peacock.
Entertainment
Snag a pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $50 off
SAVE $50: As of May 6, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) for $399 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $449. That’s a discount of 11%.
$399
at Amazon
$449
Save $50
If you want to experience your favorite music to the fullest, you need headphones that are up to the task. Bose can typically be counted on to provide that kind of quality, especially with its QuietComfort lineup. You can try its newest model for less right now for less thanks to this Amazon deal, which heavily discounts the cans so you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on them.
As of May 6, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) for $399 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $449. That’s $50 off and a discount of 11%.
Though an incremental upgrade from the previous QuietComfort model, these have some new features you’ll want to try out. But mostly, these comfortable headphones are all about feeling great on your ears and sounding fantastic. They offer noise cancellation and spatialized audio so it sounds as though you’re right where the music is. The new Cinema Mode can help to spatialize and balance background and sound and sound effects when watching movies to help put you right into the film as well.
Beyond that they can be used to take calls with their built-in microphones. They’ll last a long time while you’re on the phone too, with 30 hours of play time when listening to songs, podcasts, or taking meetings.
Mashable Deals
Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard took the headphones for a spin in her review and and called them a “well-rounded pair of headphones”, praising their blend of “comfort, noise cancellation, and sound”.
If you’re ready to pick up a new pair of headphones at a discount that’ll tick all the boxes for you, grab these before the discount disappears.
Entertainment
Score up to 64% off at EcoFlow and snag free solar panels with your purchase.
SAVE 64%: Between May 6 and May 17, you can score up to 64% off at EcoFlow and snag free solar panels with your purchase.
Get up to 64% off plus a free solar panel with purchase
I live in an apartment, so I don’t exactly have a “whole home” to back up. But if there’s one thing I hate, it’s losing power. There goes the AC, the internet, the food in the fridge — it’s a total nightmare. If you actually own a house and have been putting off buying a backup power system because it’s pricey, I have some good news.
The DJI Power 1000 Mini portable power station just launched — U.S. availability is pending
Right now, EcoFlow is running a Mother’s Day Sale through May 17 with discounts as high as 64%. They’re also throwing in free hardware to sweeten the deal: All single orders between $600 and $3,000 come with a free 45W solar panel, and orders over $3,000 come with two free 160W solar panels. If you’re looking for something more portable, their RAPID Power Banks are also up to 53% off right now.
Just keep an eye on the countdown clock — it’s for the Flash Sale items that have even better, limited-time price cuts. If you miss the flash window, the standard Mother’s Day and Home Improvement deals (including a $700 installation discount for larger systems) are still valid through mid-May.
Mashable Deals
Here are a few of the best deals I’ve spotted so far:
Entertainment
Maddies Secret trailer reveals John Early as youve never seen him before
Comedian John Early makes his feature directorial debut with Maddie’s Secret, an offbeat homage to melodrama that he wrote and headlines as its eponymous heroine.
As an aspiring food influencer, Maddie Ralph (Early) is passionate about her cuisine. And at first glance, she’s got a picture-perfect life: a loving husband (Eric Rahill), a devoted best friend (Kate Berlant), and a job at a culinary content studio called Gourmaybe. But as the title suggests, there’s a side to Maddie she can’t stomach sharing with her loved ones. And this secret could kill her.
Out of the movie’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, I cheered Maddie’s Secret, writing in my review for Mashable, “The film is silly and strange, but even amid campy bits, sincere. So, you’ll laugh at its parody elements, but may well be genuinely moved by Early’s commitment to this strange and splendid film.”
I also said “John Early is a better ingénue than Sydney Sweeney,” comparing Maddie’s Secret to another earnest (but less entertaining) TIFF offering, Christy. And I stand by it.
Maddie’s Secret opens in theaters in New York on June 19, and in Los Angeles on June 26.
Snag a pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $50 off
Score up to 64% off at EcoFlow and snag free solar panels with your purchase.
