Men in Black 3

Release Date: May 25, 2012  

Runtime: 1 hr. 44 min. 

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld 

Cast: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Emma Thompson, Alice Eve.

They've been called agents. Galaxy defenders. And of course, the ubiquitous 'men in black.' But to the rest of us, they're a reminder of simpler times, when alien lifeforms were the least of our worries, and Will Smith was still 'gettin' jiggy wit it.' Following the recent trend of resurrected franchises comes the third installment of "MIB," reuniting the oddball pair of Tommy Lee Jones and Smith. Ten years since the last outing, the two still got it: taking down extraterrestrials and neuralyzing civilians. But as fate would have it, things change when Boris the Animal escapes from prison with a vendetta against K. As a result, J must go back in time to stop him, thus changing this presumable sequel into a prequel, so to speak. If there's a memorable quality from the "MIB" series, it's the quirkiness that comes hand-in-hand with its humor. In addition to the alien renditions that are bizarre in nature, the stories are always outlandish and told primarily for the audience's enjoyment. While many agree that the second entry was forgettable, the third is a vast improvement due to one reason: Josh Brolin. Whether it's braving the west, or playing the President, Brolin is always at the top of his game when getting into character. His intonation and physical mimicry of Tommy Lee Jones is so dead-on that you forget the two are not of the same individual. And not to be wholly forgotten, Smith is still consistent as well. After being absent from the screen for over three years, his 'comeback' seems appropriate that it should be on familiar grounds. (Better this than the atrocity, "Wild Wild West.") Even though "MIB 3" may not be a necessary sequel/prequel, and the best at that, it still shows heart at the end of it all. How? That's for you to find out.

Rating: 3 stars