Twenty years ago, Barry Sonnenfeld gave the world Men in Black, a science fiction comedy perhaps best remembered for its music video, featuring Will Smith dancing alongside a computer-animated space alien. But what I remember most fondly is a low-stakes scene with no special effects or pop songs. Tucked into the first act, the moment is brief, subtle, and to this day, I find it unrivaled in terms of charm and efficiency.
Some setup: Men in Black begins with NYPD officer James Darrell Edwards III (Will Smith) keeping pace with a mysteriously speedy perp. The feat is noticed by a mysterious group of men in black (suits), and Edwards is given an opportunity to join their ranks, alongside some of the nation’s best military.
But first, he needs to pass an audition. The sequence, particularly the 2.5-minute quiz sequence, tells us everything we need to know about Edwards as a character, while also endearing us to him.
Edwards enters the meeting late, walking into a large interrogation room sporting boots, jeans, and a truly 1990s red jacket. When a smug fellow applicant tries to impress the recruiter (Zed, played by Rip Torn), Edwards mocks the recruit for hyping a a job he — and everybody else in the room — knows nothing about.