A film which remembers to be fun

Rating: 9/10 (1 June 2012)

Boris the Animal ("Just Boris!") is sprung from prison on the moon to seek revenge against Agent K, who put him there 40 years earlier. This revenge involves going back in time to kill him, which surprises Agent J, who only spoke to him on the phone the night before and then finds the next day that Agent K died 40 years earlier, and so has to go back in time himself to prevent Agent K being killed. The question of how come Agent J remembers Agent K from yesterday when everyone else thinks he died 40 years ago is addressed: I didn't find the explanation very convincing, but that's a minor quibble.
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones play Agents J and K again, with Josh Brolin in a superb performance capturing the essence of a young, and less jaundiced and weary, Agent K. The main support players are excellent - Emma Thompson is a very funny Agent O, Jermaine Clement is both vile and funny as Boris, and Michael Stuhlbarg is funny, intriguing and touching as the pivotal Griffin.
Much of the formula from the previous films rightly remains in place - well-realised aliens, dazzling effects, decent action, and good comedy. This is enhanced by the time travel element, poking fun at many aspects of 1969, as well as some fish-out-of-water humour. The relationship between J and K gives the film some heart, and there is some nice payoff material towards the end.
I enjoyed this as much as either of its predecessors.