Starring iconic Hollywood stars like Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, Men in Black has solidified its place as one of their most notable works. While Smith’s comedic prowess, honed through projects like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and various comedy films, makes his role understandable, the same isn’t immediately evident for Jones.
Unlike his other notable roles, which usually don’t fall within the comedy or sci-fi genres, Jones’ portrayal of Agent K’s composed demeanor in even the most absurd scenarios undeniably induces smiles from audiences. And it could be credited to the filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld’s approach to bringing out the comedic side of the Oscar-winning actor.
Men in Black Director Revealed His Approach to Bring Out Tommy Lee Jones’ Funny Side
Barry Sonnenfeld’s Men in Black trilogy has been a fan favorite for several reasons, including its comedic elements. Whether it’s Agent J’s memorable encounter with the alien baby’s delivery, his witty banter with the Bug, or Agent K’s steady demeanor in the face of bizarre situations, the films have left audiences chuckling.
The filmmaker revealed how he managed to craft humor in a sci-fi film revolving around secret agents monitoring extraterrestrial life on Earth. He has shared that instead of bringing out comedic performances from the actors, he opted to create humor through situational context.
In an interview with Indie Film Hustle Talks, he recalled his approach with Tommy Lee Jones. The filmmaker shared that the Finestkind stars struggled with funny scenes as he constantly tried to be funny. However, the filmmaker advised the actor to refrain from forcing humor.
“In fact Tommy on the first movie hated me because he thought he was in a comedy and kept trying funny — You’re going to be funny by doing nothing. You are the audience’s point of view. You are the reaction shot.”
While his approach seemingly worked, as the films don’t necessarily feature Lee Jones forcing a humorous performance, the filmmaker revealed that the actor still felt compelled to inject humor into his performance, as he couldn’t resist making sound effects during gun scenes.
Barry Sonnenfeld Recalled Tommy Lee Jones’ Playful Antics on the Film Set
Further in his conversation with Indie Film Hustle Talks, filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld recalled Tommy Lee Jones’ behind-the-scenes antics on the set of Men in Black. He shared his mutual admiration for both Will Smith and Lee Jones.
However, he also revealed that The Fugitive star often indulged in playful mischief on the set. Sonnenfeld recalled how he would frequently toy with props, particularly the neuralyzer. Some of his other anecdotes involved Jones’ tendency to add sound effects during gun scenes.
Barry Sonnenfeld recalled,
“He’s like a little kid, he was always playing with the neuralyzer and breaking them. And whenever they had to shoot their guns, because they were space guns you know, and they didn’t make any sounds and we didn’t have ribs, he would make a sound.”
The Men in Black director recalled numerous occasions when he had to remind Jones to refrain from making the sound of the gun. However, he still described his experience working on the franchise with Smith and Jones as amazing and fondly reminisced about the joy and laughter that permeated the set.
Men in Black film series is available to stream on Prime Video.
