Film Review : Men in Black 3
May 30, 2012 04:25PM ● By Justin Buettner
In their third outing Agent J travels back In time to the 1960’s to save a young Agent K from a time travelling bad alien named Boris the animal. Boris’s species seeks to conquer the Earth but a young Agent K put a stop to his plans. By killing Agent K Boris would of course change the future, that is unless Agent J can put a stop to it.
Time travel stories are difficult to make because any amount of thought can punch a giant hole in the plot. Men in Black 3 was not perfect in this respect but it did manage to pack enough fun in the film that you don't mind the miscues. What really struck me while watching Men In Black 3 was the undertone of sad nostalgia the film had. For what looked to be a fun summer blockbuster the movie dwelled on the subject of death a great deal. The film begins with a eulogy and spent the rest of the film on what seemed to be the life legacy of Agent K. The way the character of Agent K was handled I have little doubt that If a Men In Black four were to ever happen it will be without Tommy Lee Jones.
This movie franchise is certainly built for Will Smith's Agent J character. Will Smith who has not acted in a film in over three years is still as likable as ever. He has a great charisma and despite the wisecracking, he is a fun guy to like. Josh Brolin who plays a young version of Agent K is brilliant. Josh Brolin always impresses in his roles, but what he does in this film is uncanny. He actually becomes a young Tommy Lee Jones. His performance never feels like an impersonation. Truly one of the best performances of the year so far.
Men In Black 3 really succeeds in getting the villain right too. Boris the Animal is a formidable and interesting adversary. The creature design does not fail to impress. The same can be said for all the creatures in the film as legendary creature effects make up artist Rick Baker once again showcases his unique talents. It’s a marvel to see the diversity and fun in the number of creatures the film employs.
It's a shame that Men in Black 3 was not the follow up to the great original film. Men In Black 2 was a terrible film and quite honestly I thought it ended the franchise. It's a bit strange that the third part has been released almost a decade after the last Men in Black film. I am not sure there was a lot of demand for another sequel in this franchise, but it's nice they were able to perhaps end the franchise on a good note.
While Men In Black 3 is not a spectacular movie, it is certainly solid. The tone, comedy, and style that the first Men In Black had has returned. This third chapter definitely carries a lot more emotional weight to it than any of the other Men In Black films and the twist at the end reflects that. If you enjoyed the original Men In Black this third chapter will be fun for you.
Films like Men In Black 3 : Men in Black, Hellboy, and Mars Attacks
Justin Buettner is Style's resident movie dude! How did he get this role? Well, he graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts in film Production and a duel minor in Animation and Business with an emphasis in the entertainment field. He later went on to work on several independent films in various key roles including writer and later worked in the special effects field as a motion capture artist. He has since relocated to the Sacramento area with his family and continues writing for small independent films in addition to his movie reviews for Style Magazine.