Men In Black 3
- Year:2012
- Rating:M
- Director:Barry Sonnenfeld
- Cast:Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith
- Release Date:May 24, 2012
- Distributor:Sony
- Running time:106 minutes
- Film Worth:$15.00
- FILMINK rates movies out of $20 - the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
It’s not a sequel that needed to be made, but thanks to the charm of its leads and a tone that harks back to the wit and humour of the original, it’s a pretty enjoyable trip.
The original Men in Black is a rare creature: a sardonically funny, intelligent and witty blockbuster. With unforgettable characters, a lively plot and amazing-looking aliens from FX master, Rick Baker, it remains a beloved classic and possibly the best film of its type since Ghostbusters.
Men In Black II, on the other hand, is maddening tripe that represents the worst kind of pandering. Like an obnoxious, noisy, caffeinated child, it artlessly apes and flings elements of the first film (the talking pug, the cool weapons, the secret society of the MIB) at the screen without rhyme or reason. It somehow manages to be both achingly awful and utterly forgettable.
The good news is that Men In Black III, while still not attaining the prestigious status of the first film, is a big step up from the previous entry. The slight but engaging story sets up the escape of Boris The Animal (Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement in a gleefully evil role) who then goes back to 1969 and deletes Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) from recent history. Agent J (Will Smith) also goes back in time (through a stunningly giddy, FX-heavy sequence) and teams up with young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to help save the universe yet again.
From any objective perspective this sounds like a convoluted mess but somehow, thanks in no small part to Brolin's brilliant performance and Smith's undeniable charm, the film works for the most part. Some of the ideas remain a little undercooked and the gags are hit or miss, but that strange, quirky, deadpan charm of the original is back.
Overflowing with wry historical references (Andy Warhol is a highlight), typically jaw-dropping aliens imbued this time with a retro sixties vibe and even a surprising amount of heart towards the end, Men In Black III is a sequel the world probably didn't need but is an enjoyable journey nonetheless.
