Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that comic mayhem and gross-out creatures from other planets define Men in Black. Scary creatures and life-threatening situations are frequent. The film, however, is as clever as it is exaggerated; some of the most destructive violence is implied, happening just off-camera. Still, young or sensitive kids who can't readily distinguish fantasy from reality may be disturbed by the barrage of exploding insects, grotesque morphing from human to alien life form, and cartoon violence (characters blow up, are vaporized, stabbed, shot with ray guns, and more). There's plenty of swearing ("damn," "goddamn," "bastard," "hell," "s--t") and a few insults, including "d--k" and "pr--k").
Sexual
Content
Some mild innuendo and flirting between one of the heroes and the very attractive (and sexy) female coroner.
Violence
All cartoon, all the time. Nothing is meant to be taken seriously, but rather to shock and awe the viewer with comic horror and laughter. Heads roll (literally), and there are explosions, crashes, stabbings, shootings, futuristic weapons. The "ewww" factor is high, as insects with massive tentacles capture humans; slimy creatures erupt into blue goo; a giant bug swallows one of the leads and spits him up later; a woman gives birth to a squid; a vacuum-hose is forced down a man's throat; bizarre-looking humans morph into all manner of even more bizarre creatures.
Language
Frequent swearing and mild profanity: "goddamn," "s--t," "ass," "bastard," hell," "butt," "pissed off." "D--k" and "pr--k" are used as insults.
Social
Behavior
Good triumphs over evil. Comically engenders a belief that if Earth were invaded by alien life forms, the situation would be controllable.
Consumerism
Marlboro cigarettes, Gold's Gym, Bloomingdale's, Ford.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
A running joke shows a species of small, slimy, highly literate insects as heavy smokers.
