Men in White (1998 TV Movie) User Reviews

No Brains And No Laughs

[Theo Robertson · 2/10 · 15 January 2006]

I wished I'd taped MEN IN WHITE so I could watch it again

" What ? You mean you really enjoyed it Theo ? "

No I mean I could watch it again to see if it was as retarded , stupid and as embarrassingly unfunny as I can remember it

A lot of people have claimed it was made for children . May I suggest it was also made by children ? because the whole structure of the script lacks any type of discipline on the part of the producers and writers and much of set pieces seem to have been included because it seemed like a good idea at the time

The cast don't help but I genuinely started to feel sorry for them . Honestly you can believe that during filming the cast had to lie to their families that they were filming a hard core porn film such was their embarrassment at having to appear in something as dismal as this . To give you an idea of how bad the acting is every time BAYWATCH babe Donna D'Ericco disappeared from the narrative I waited patiently for her to reappear then seconds later I forgot she was in the movie . Got that ? A star from BAYWATCH appears and seconds later you forget they're in the movie . This tells you all you need to know about the standard of MEN IN WHITE

Fair enough it's trying to be a live action cartoon similar to THE GOODIES ( Although THE DISMALS would be a better adjective for this movie ) , though perhaps the movie deserves some credit for never descending to toilet humour , but considering this is a kids movie ( This didn't stop ITV broadcasting it at 11 pm ) then there should be no near the knuckle humour in it anyway

National Lampoon has fallen from grace

[ericstevenson · 2/10 · 16 October 2016]

The only other National Lampoon movies I've seen are the Vacation and Christmas Vacation movies. Those are good and this can't hold a candle to them. Maybe I'm being too hard on a TV movie. No, TV movies have given us great things like "Temple Grandin". This is an awful movie no matter how you look at it. This movie is a supposed parody of "Men In Black", but it feels a lot more like a knockoff product. The film has virtually nothing to do with "Men In Black" at all. Instead, it mostly just features two garbage men and a bunch of aliens they fight.

It might just be because "Dr. Strangelove" is such a great movie that I particularly hated this. There's a Dr. Strangelove parody in this and again, that has nothing to do with "Men In Black" or even alien movies in general. It's great how those few minutes he was on screen were infinitely better than all the screen time this guy was on. The special effects in this are terrible. It might have been okay if they had just used costumes, but instead they used horrendous CGI. It's the worst I've seen in a long time.

I know this was 1998, but "Jurassic Park" was 1993 for crying out loud! This throws in a bunch of "Star Wars" stuff. There's even a scene where all the bad guys are running out of the ship that seems like a ripoff of a scene in "Spaceballs". This wasn't for theaters, TV, video or anything else. Some of these jokes I can see coming from a mile away. I guess even on TV, spoof movies were becoming awful at this time. *

From mashed potatoes in Animal House to corn here.

[mark.waltz · 2/10 · 24 January 2021]

You'll get more genuine laughs from the corn field on "Hee Haw" than this unless you reach deep, deep, deep into yourself to find your inner child, the "Hogan's Heroes"/"Gilligan's Island" loving side of you that is unabashedly silly. unfortunately, a good percentage of the jokes do not work in 2021 because they involved references to cultural events going on more than 20 years ago. Obviously, it's spoofing "Men in Black", but like their last theatrical spoof ("Fatal Instinct"), it spoofs other genres and celebrity icons as well. Some of the jokes may make you smile in between eye rolls. Others will just make you shake your head in disgust and think about throwing things at your TV screen.

Other than a few supporting cast members, this film is filled with some not so promising comics, you know, the type of kid from your grade school who could do funny tricks to make grandma laugh but which got them beaten up after school. These attention seeking kids grow up into truly annoying adults whose talents are all in their own mind, particularly the two garbage men who get abducted by aliens and the heavily accented scientist who gives them their moniker of men in white.

Add Barry Bostwick to the list of actors playing fictional U.S. presidents, and he is presented as a complete buffoon. At least the film is consistent with idiocy with even the aliens presented as wisecracking morons. George Kennedy adds another one of his pointless guest appearances as this adds "Mars Attacks!" to the list of its films to spoof. This is perhaps one of the biggest spoof disasters of film history that avoided theatrical release critics and disappeared into oblivion as a minor listing on a cable TV channel that most people knew carried mainly third rate programming outside of their reruns. Efforts for a Zucker/Abrams like structure fail on every level.

Poop on Toast

[johnny_ultimate · 1/10 · 21 June 2005]

This film is so bad, it made me want to vomit. Poorly produced, a complete laugh free zone. Why in the name of god would you spoof a movie which to a degree is a spoof (and a damn funny one at that) as it stands? The sets are laughable, the effects so bad that they aren't even laughable, and the acting farcical. It is a complete mystery why you would even consider watching this lump of garbage. National Lampoon once made Animal House, which people still consider to be completely and utterly hilarious. Now they've been relegated to making TV movies like this lump of ****. Name your expletive, and it could be accurately used to describe this film.

Not THAT bad considering the target audience

[JBoze313 · 23 December 2001]

Let's be honest, this is not a great movie...it's not a very good movie. There are a few laughs here and there, and, for the target audience (kids), it's not too bad. I'm not sure what network this movie was actually made for (I know I first heard of it when Fox took control of the Family Channel.)..so, it's clearly aimed at children. I watched it myself (I was probably 18 or 19 at the time?) and I enjoyed it somewhat. Overall it's lacking in humor, but there are some funny bits here and there. The premise itself is pretty funny, and could have worked with a good script. Bostwick's career never really went very far after Rocky Horror, I see...but he's enjoyable here.

From Bad To Worse To Men In White!

[mikkelhj · 1/10 · 17 July 2001]

Although properly warned I actually sat down to watch this movie. In part because I usually give every movie an even break, and because I thought that a single movie couldn't be that bad. I stand corrected. Not even George Kennedy, Barry Bostwick or Ben Stein could save this turkey from sinking like a ton of bricks. Only once during this humor forsaken travesty of a spoof did I laugh. Namely during the Simon says scene. The other jokes are either poorly carried out or simply plain unfunny. And some of them you actually see coming a mile away. This movie just hasn't got what it takes to be a good parody like Airplane! (I+II), Naked Gun (I+II+III), or Scary Movie. They all had A. funny gags, B. good dialog and most important of all C. unforgettable quotes. Men In White has got D. none of the above. To call this movie bad would be a gross understatement. AVOID THIS MOVIE ANYWAY YOU CAN! CONSIDER YOURSELVES WARNED!

It is NOT one of the worst movies.

[lailoken · 1/10 · 24 July 2000]

Well, not yet, at least.

It's not listed in the worst 100...

So let's all team up, and put it in it's rightful place.

This is truly a bad movie. (And I liked Ishtar!) ;)

RUN AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NikTesla · 1/10 · 6 January 2000]

If you see this turkey listed in your TV guide, AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A steaming great pile of fetid dingoes kidneys doesn't begin to describe how bad this movie is! There is only one funny scene (the memory eraser scene) but even that rates only .001 on the laughometer (out of 1000). Whoever wrote this turkey should be banned from writing another movie for their entire lives.

An absolute disgrace

[A worm · 1/10 · 21 March 2001]

Words fail me. This film was extremely difficult to watch and in hindsight I really wish I hadn't done it. Although I attempted to sit through it until the end credits I have to admit I couldn't last for more than hour, so my opinion could be unfair. However, this film would require the most impressive final third in the history of film-making in order for it to be given a review which is anything but vicious.

Please do not watch any part of this film.

How to waste two hours of your life

[manitou-full-moon · 1/10 · 3 January 2006]

If you really, truly want to waste two hours of your life, do the following:

1) Look through the TV listings. 2) Find the movie 'Men in White'. 3) When 'Men in White' comes on, sit and watch.

And that's it. After sitting through two hours of bad puns, dreadful (and not that funny) movie references, and experiencing something with possibly the lowest production values ever made in recent history, you will have wasted two hours of your life, and wonder exactly why.

Why did I do this? I was stupid enough to think that this film might actually be some good. It wasn't.

But, on the other hand, if you're old enough to remember Power Rangers, you might spot some familiar faces during the film. Presumably to save on production costs, Saban (who also make Power Rangers), decided to liberally sprinkle old monster costumes from everyone's favourite tacky toy-spawning franchise throughout the film. I spotted quite a few old monsters from episodes I saw from when I was a kid, so I guess it could at least be said it has some nostalgia value.

But, if you want to see actual Power Rangers monsters, go watch Power Rangers itself. It's much better than this piece of garbage. (And that's saying something!)

Oh so bad!!!

[popem79 · 1/10 · 22 July 2001]

This 'Movie' has to be the biggest pile of steaming C*^p I have ever

seen, What more can I say than BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD. There is NOTHING to save this 'movie' and I pray that they NEVER even talk about making a sequel. If you are thinking about watching this then you should know that the storyline is that two garbage men get dragged into saving the earth. Movies like Men in Black has been torn to shreds and put back together to make this 'Comedy' but have TOTALLY failed. Please avoid this movie, (save yourself).

An excellent yet underrated classic

[korodzik · 10/10 · 3 December 2006]

The "Men in White" movie is definitely one of the funniest, if not THE funniest, comedy movies I ever watched! (and I watched quite a lot!) It is about two garbagemen, who become "Men in White" and then stop an invasion from space. It is also a parody of lots of classic movies, such as "Men in Black", "Star Wars" or "Dr. Strangelove". Anyone who says that this movie is crappy has something wrong with his head. There are tons of funny gags and jokes here, and you might actually get injury to your mouth from laughing too hard (it happened to me!). If you can watch this movie on TV, watch it now - you certainly won't regret it!

Not bad

[itsabacus2009 · 6/10 · 9 March 2020]

Okay, so it's not a big budget movie; it's a TV movie! But you have to keep in mind, that the targeted audience was most likely for kids NOT adults. So, if you watch it from a child's perspective, you can see the comedy in it! Is it a little bizarre? Of course it is, its supposed to be. I'll even go as far as to say that this is a great FAMILY comedy; mostly clean and silly but still good in its own right. Truly this movie is a hidden gem and is a required taste to fully enjoy it.

How bad is this?

[sabbat7001 · 1/10 · 6 September 1999]

You should know that I am the type of person that watches even the worst of movies to the finish, often out of sheer morbid curiosity. I even watched Leprechaun to the end before giving in to the temptation of tearing out my eyes and stamping on them. You should also know that this movie was in my VCR for less than half an hour before I made a frantic leap for the stop button and dashed back the rental store just to put as much distance between me and it as possible.

Sadly, all you people do not appreciate good humor.

[PIBB · 16 March 2002]

This is a good movie and I care NOT what ANYONE says. I mean its watchable! If any of you fools that says this movie sucked have seen hobgoblins than you can talk. I mean, I've seen better, and I've seen worse, and I've seen Men In White. this movie was not meant to be directed at older audiences. I first saw this movie on FoxFamily channel and halfway through the electicity went out. I rode my bike 5 miles to my friends house because he was recording it.

"PLEH HE NEEDS PLEH! GIVE ME PLEH"

Laugh? I thought I would never start.

[robbeym · 1/10 · 16 November 1999]

Why did I waste my time with this movie? There was not a single funny joke or line throughout. The slapstick wasn't even mildly funny. I mean really, an out of control vacuum sucking pipe? Why has the National Lampoon's name been attached to this movie? Even Christmas Vacation was better than this (I actually thought that film was very funny).

AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!

I think I hold the record here...

[Benjy · 1/10 · 12 June 2002]

it got switched off before the opening credits had even finished appearing. The first joke was just so appallingly lame and dreadfully acted that it had to go. You shouldn't really decide to watch this based on my review or not. I saw so little of it I shouldn't even really be commenting but suddenly it all became clear why the video shop guy was sniggering at us paying money to see it.

Couldn't they have just made Earnest does Dallas?

A dead cat could make a better film.

[jackmehoff-1 · 1/10 · 21 August 2001]

A friend of mine enjoys watching the worst films he can possibly find, and I have a good laugh watching them with him.

I have told him if he puts this one on again I will be forced to give him a good kicking.

He knows I am serious!

Not a spoof, but an insult

[Vortimer · 1/10 · 21 March 2006]

I may have seen worse films than this, but I if I have, I don't remember. Or possibly blocked them out. Who knows,if I was to undergo hypnotherapy, I may remember them, along, maybe, with been abducted by aliens as a child, or other traumas. If so, I would happily exchange those memories for the ones I have of watching this film.

I should give the film some credit: It did produce an emotional response. I actually started to become angry at scenes that spoofed other films and TV programs, that this travesty was dirtying them by association. I am terrified that I may be unable to watch films like Dr Strangelove again without this film flitting across my minds eye.

Surely as bad as it gets

[gavinsnowdon · 1/10 · 16 August 2004]

I watched this on a weekend afternoon as there was simply nothing else on, it would have been more entertaining to chew off my feet and probably less painful. I urge anyone to watch this just to see how turgidly awful a movie can be, surely it was deliberate. I cringed at every futile attempt at humour carried out in such a childish, unrehearsed, badly executed way that it was beyond belief. This is the movie that makes Spiceworld look like Goodfellas, think I am exaggerating? Well give it airtime and think again. Dreadful, utterly dreadful. If this wasn't a prank then the director and anyone else responsible for this should be removed and promptly shot after being forced to watch this film again.

Not exactly a glowing report

[fred-208 · 1/10 · 29 June 1999]

I only lasted 15mins before self preservation jerked me out of the empty eyed drooling stupor that this film effortlessly induced and propelled me screaming back to the video shop armed for bear.

To say the film was bad would be a missed opportunity to use words interspersed with characters from the top keys on my keyboard (just to keep these comments clean).

One to be avoided.

I don't get all the hate

[stewiec-43279 · 5/10 · 20 November 2023]

First of all, yeah it's goofy and yeah it's something for kids. But so what, you can see the cast were having fun with their roles. I'm 38 years old and I have to say this is a funny movie. It's made to not to be taken seriously. It's an about a couple bumbling garbage men who get mixed up with aliens and unexpectedly through goofy fashion and bumbling politics they are chosen to be saviors. It's not that much different in real life with current idiotic politics but hey watch the movie if you want to turn your brain off and relish in the silliness. You can't get that good entertainment these days. So just watch and lose all expectations in a good way.

The worst ???

[korto · 10/10 · 1 June 2003]

Actually I liked this movie very, very much. Not because of it`s plot, acting, jokes, no. I liked it, because it`s one of the worse movies ever created. It`s so lame, so bad, that it becomes terribly funny. Some jokes are actually cool, but the rest makes me pray for unemployment for the scriptwriter. "Men in white" are so dumb and stupid, that you can do only two things. Turn the TV off or roll on the floor laughing (beer helps a lot:). I chose the second option.

Neat TV Movie From My Childhood

[jeremycrimsonfox · 7/10 · 7 August 2020]

I remember seeing this movie as a teenager, and I found it funny. Men in White (also known as National Lampoon's Men In White) is a TV movie made for the Fox Family Channel (known known as Freeform, which is no longer a family channel).

Two garbagemen are doing their jobs when they are abducted by aliens. but manage to fight back. As a result, the two are hired by the CIA's Dr. Strangemeister to become secret agents to stop the aliens from invading Earth. Chaos and hilarity ensues.

Yes, this is a stupid parody of Men In Black, but it's so stupid, it's actually funny. For a movie with the National Lampoon title, it's pretty tame (possibly due to airing on Fox Family, as its first original film). Basically, the humor is made up of pop culture references and some moments of characters acting stupid. This is one of those movies that's so stupid, it adds to the comedy of the film.

An American's Opinion

[SenorVictor · 10/10 · 13 November 2004]

What is with all of the European (especially England) comments here? All i gotta say is that when i saw this movie for the first time when i was like 13 i thought it was great. Of course it's stupid. That's the point. You have to see the movie Dr. Strangelove and Men in Black to get the whole joke behind this movie, but come on people, what did you expect to see? I can think of many movies that are far worse than this, and they were expensive Hollwood films with real actors in them. For what it's worth, Men in White is a very stupid-funny mock of a movie. And with all the stupid-funny stuff that England has been making for the last half century, i am shocked at all the negative comments. Us stupid Americans like our stupid humor. P.S., see 'Team America: World Police" for some true laughs that Europeans will especially like. HA!