3. New Recruits
Part of the genius behind the comedy of the first MIB film was in the development of J not just as an agent, but as a character on the whole. His adjustment from being the solo cop chasing down regular old bad guys on the streets, to working alongside a partner dealing with threats to the entire planet was the driving force behind the humour of the film. As an agent, K has to adapt his style in line with the secrecy of MIB. No running through the streets firing at the perp! Learning the rules, procedures and technologies behind MIB is a roller-coaster of surprise and excitement. As a character, J is now in a situation where he has to let go of the life he has known and focus on a new one, where the world suddenly seems a lot smaller and everyday situations are so much bigger, coming in every shape and size you can imagine. None more evident than the scene where he delivers the squid-like alien baby. This kind of character development was much less prominent in the following two films, particularly in MIB 2 as J neutralises his new partners who struggle to make the same transition that he did. Coming full circle, where J is training new agents who after a few hilarious set-backs prove they have what it takes to work for MIB, could provide the kind of humour that we enjoyed so much in the first film while also serving as a springboard for future films, should Smith & Jones call it a day while the fans are still asking for more.