Men In Black 3 - Movie Review

Who's in it? 

Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin & Emma Thompson

What's it about?

The men in black are back. This time, as a result of a lunar prison escape and a crease in the time space continuum, Agent J (Smith) must travel back in time to the late sixties to save Agent Ks life and, of course, the world. 

Any good? 

After a 10 year hiatus, following a less than average sequel in the franchise, I wasn't expecting much from Men in Black 3, that's why when it turned out to be an enjoyable little escapade I was more than pleasantly surprised. Sonnenfield directs again, with Spielberg as Executive Producer and Ethan Coen on the screen writing team, all of which help to push this film to another level.

Brolin & Smith (K&J) seeing eye to eye, reluctantly. 

This time round we’re given a very personal insight into the men behind the black suits, their history and their relationship, which was engaging and heartfelt. Agent J (Smith) is his charismatic self, travelling through time to save the partner that never gives him more than a hint of emotion. That is until he meets the younger Agent K (Brolin). Coen brothers’ favourite Brolin is so convincing in his role as a younger Jones that you’d be forgiven for thinking there was CGI and dubbing work at play.

There's something here for everyone, enough slapstick to keep the younger audience entertained, a genuinely believable baddy (Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchordes) that gave me the heebie jeebies, a funny tongue in cheek poke at the 1960’s pop culture era and a plot that keeps you guessing till the last few minutes.

Boris the Animal. Or 'Just Boris', if you're Boris. 

Although my respect for Smith, as an actor, is on the wane, that didn’t completely overshadow this movie for me as it did for a lot of reviewers and critics. I would have liked to see some of the other relationships fleshed out, namely Agent O and an early Agent K but even though all of the elements of Men in Black 3 have been done before, it still manages to travel back to a time when sci fi sequels were exciting. It’s light years better than the second and, to me, even better than the first.

Yes, there’s high octane action and aliens aplenty but there’s also dry wit and sharp humorous screen writing. Add in the time travelling dimension and stellar acting from Brolin et al and you have the recipe for a very entertaining 106 minutes of a threequel.

All pics courtesy of Sony Pictures. 

Rating: