I didn’t realize that I was actually looking forward to seeing Men in Black III until after the lights had gone down in the theater, the previews had run, and composer Danny Elfman’s familiar MIB score began to play over the opening credits. It’s been a while since I had watched the originals, but when that music started all the fun, action, and humor of the first film came flooding back to me and I actually got excited.
I’m not sure who decided, 15 years after the fantastic original Men in Black and ten years after the lackluster Men in Black II, that it was time to revisit the MIB franchise, but I’m glad they did. Men in Black III may not feel as fresh as the classic original, but it is miles beyond the second film and reminds us that, although a few years out of the spotlight, Will Smith (Independence Day, Bad Boys) is still a true-blooded movie star.
Smith’s charisma is what fuels Men in Black III. In the film, Smith’s Agent J follows an alien super criminal bent on revenge back in time to the 1960s to prevent Agent K’s premature death. Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive) is present-time K and Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men), doing an outstanding Jones imitation, is past K. But the constant is Smith, who carries the film and, despite perhaps a few wobbles, never drops it.
Smith jumps right back into the character of J, who as we remember was a product of the 90s and early 2000s. Mainstream humor was a bit different back then, a bit cleaner I’d say, so Smith’s style of delivery takes a minute or two to get used to, but is one that we are familiar with and fall back into comfortably. This is certainly an action/comedy that the whole family can go to. Although if Smith’s brand of comedy gets on your nerves, brace yourself; this is a Will Smith show.
I’m not sure who decided, 15 years after the fantastic original Men in Black and ten years after the lackluster Men in Black II, that it was time to revisit the MIB franchise, but I’m glad they did. Men in Black III may not feel as fresh as the classic original, but it is miles beyond the second film and reminds us that, although a few years out of the spotlight, Will Smith (Independence Day, Bad Boys) is still a true-blooded movie star.
Smith’s charisma is what fuels Men in Black III. In the film, Smith’s Agent J follows an alien super criminal bent on revenge back in time to the 1960s to prevent Agent K’s premature death. Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive) is present-time K and Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men), doing an outstanding Jones imitation, is past K. But the constant is Smith, who carries the film and, despite perhaps a few wobbles, never drops it.
Smith jumps right back into the character of J, who as we remember was a product of the 90s and early 2000s. Mainstream humor was a bit different back then, a bit cleaner I’d say, so Smith’s style of delivery takes a minute or two to get used to, but is one that we are familiar with and fall back into comfortably. This is certainly an action/comedy that the whole family can go to. Although if Smith’s brand of comedy gets on your nerves, brace yourself; this is a Will Smith show.
The nostalgia doesn’t stop with Smith’s quirky wit. Traveling back in time allows the film to unexpected approach some more serious themes, such as life for African Americans in the 60s and the circumstantial nature of fate. Embodying the latter is the alien Griffin, played by Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man), who can see multiple future timelines. The character is an interesting way to help us not get too confused with all the time travel stuff.
Jemaine Clement, of The Flight of the Conchords fame, is an excellent villain as Boris the Animal. The character design was unique and Clement was downright creepy, due mostly to the sinister accent he used. In a few scenes the filmmakers went a little over the top in digitally manipulating his voice, but the film would have failed without an effective, menacing villain and Clement definitely delivers.
There’s a few plot holes in Men in Black III to be sure, as there always are with time travel films. For example, it’s revealed that Agent K had a past relationship with Agent O, the new head of MIB played by scene-stealer Emma Thompson (Stranger Than Fiction). What about the woman who K was heartbroken over in the first film? (Not to mention the alien queen he supposedly fathered a child with from MIB2.)
More of an inconsistency though, is that the climax takes place on the launch pad of Apollo 11 because Agent K must use it to launch a defense system. Um… all these aliens running around got to Earth somehow. Wouldn’t it make so much more sense to just borrow a ship?
Jemaine Clement, of The Flight of the Conchords fame, is an excellent villain as Boris the Animal. The character design was unique and Clement was downright creepy, due mostly to the sinister accent he used. In a few scenes the filmmakers went a little over the top in digitally manipulating his voice, but the film would have failed without an effective, menacing villain and Clement definitely delivers.
There’s a few plot holes in Men in Black III to be sure, as there always are with time travel films. For example, it’s revealed that Agent K had a past relationship with Agent O, the new head of MIB played by scene-stealer Emma Thompson (Stranger Than Fiction). What about the woman who K was heartbroken over in the first film? (Not to mention the alien queen he supposedly fathered a child with from MIB2.)
More of an inconsistency though, is that the climax takes place on the launch pad of Apollo 11 because Agent K must use it to launch a defense system. Um… all these aliens running around got to Earth somehow. Wouldn’t it make so much more sense to just borrow a ship?
Perhaps the two worst parts of the movie is that (1) Will Smith never recorded a theme song for this film (the videos for the theme songs are at the end), leaving the responsibility this time to rapper Pitbull... Really? Pitbull? Come on, Will Smith. We deserve better. And (2) where was Frank, the talking alien dog???
Regardless, Men in Black III is an unexpectedly good film with an ingeniously choreographed epilogue that brings the whole series full circle. Seriously, the ending is what ultimately makes the film.
Overall, Men in Black III is fun, humorous, and action-packed. It has great protagonists and a great villain. It may not be on the level of The Avengers or The Dark Knight, and I doubt the film has generated enough interest to warrant a fourth film, but it’s certainly worth checking out at some point.
The Final Word: Wait to rent it.
Regardless, Men in Black III is an unexpectedly good film with an ingeniously choreographed epilogue that brings the whole series full circle. Seriously, the ending is what ultimately makes the film.
Overall, Men in Black III is fun, humorous, and action-packed. It has great protagonists and a great villain. It may not be on the level of The Avengers or The Dark Knight, and I doubt the film has generated enough interest to warrant a fourth film, but it’s certainly worth checking out at some point.
The Final Word: Wait to rent it.
"Men in Black"
"Back in Black (Nod Ya Head)"
"Back in Time"
Nice review Ethan. I didn't love it, but I can say that I still had a good time. Josh Brolin is also what makes this so watchable and is just so great in a role that seemed destined for him: a young Tommy Lee Jones.
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