Review: Men in Black III

Plot:  After ten years away from the big screen,  Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back in Earth protecting, alien eliminating action.  In the latest installment of the MIB franchise, a vicious alien named Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement) escapes from a maximum security prison on the moon and targets K for elimination.  Without warning K's complete existence is totally erased from everyone's memory--except Agent J.  In order to save his partner, stop Boris, and restore the timeline, J must time jump to 1969.  There he encounters a NYC landscape enmeshed in cultural upheaval and a younger version of K (Josh Brolin).  Together the two pair up in a desperate gambit to (once again) save the Earth.

Review:  I don't think I'm overstating the obvious when I say that Men in Black 2 was colossal failure.  From top to bottom (production value, direction, story, action, acting) the film stunk more than the Grinch's Jockey shorts.  So when I heard Columbia pictures was moving forward with a third edition, I was less than thrilled.  Compound that with the fact that production was suspended for 6 months while the script was finished and that Tommy Lee Jones gave some very candid interviews about how he had no idea what the film was about, and you can understand why I thought MIB3 was doomed to failure.
     I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was wrong.
     MIB3 is a humorous, action packed, sci-fi romp that boasts a stellar performance from Josh Brolin and recaptures the spirit and fun of the original.
     What makes MIB3 so entertaining is that it focuses on the chemistry between K and J, something that was severely lacking in the last film.  The two character's (and actor's) personalities are so disparate that at first you wouldn't expect it to work, but some how it does.  K and J have become like an old married couple that bickers, often times with hilarious consequences.  (One of the early scenes in a Chinese restaurant is particularly good.)  Yet underneath it all you know that the two men care for each other deeply.  In fact, as the climax reveals, the two have a deeper connection than J ever suspected. 
     I have to give credit to director Barry Sonnefeld and screenwriter Etan Cohen for keeping the focus on Agents J and K.  The last film came across as a quick sequel cash grab, a half-assed effort that showed.  Yet in this film, you could tell that Sonnefeld desperately cared about making a quality film that the fans could enjoy.  I'm happy to say he succeeded.  Cohen's script contains plenty of excellent actions moments such as the opening escape scene from the moon and the final confrontation at Cape Canaveral.  However there are plenty of small humorous scenes, such as the meeting between J and Andy Warhol (Bill Hader), that provide a nice balance to the rest of the film.  Moreover, MIB3 sports an excellent villain in Boris the Animal.  Jemaine Clement gives a spectacular performance, complete with googly dark eyes and razor sharp teeth that make him particularly terrifying.  Plus there's always a strong appeal for time travel films and what better place to go than NYC in the 60s.  FYI--the aliens really reflect the time frame as well.
     What also adds flavor to MIB3 is the addition of Josh Brolin to the franchise.  As a young Agent K, he carries this film and in many ways outshines superstar Will Smith.  By portraying the young Agent K there was the obvious temptation of doing an imitation of Tommy Lee Jones that could have hackneyed and empty.  Instead, Brolin captures the essence of Agent K, adding the requisite amount of grumpiness and nuance that breathes new life into an already familiar character.  Brolin shows a gentler Agent K, one early in his career with the Men in Black, one not nearly as jaded as his older version.  He even has a love interest in Agent O, played by the sexy and funny Alice Eve.  If there ever is a Men in Black 4, I sincerely hope that Brolin returns.
     At the end of the day, MIB3 is a thoroughly enjoyable popcorn flick that puts the franchise back on track.  So neuralize any memories you might have of the last film and enjoy the latest edition.  You're virtually guaranteed to have fun.

My rating:  8/10