Back in Black Times Three

Rating: 7/10 (6 June 2012)

"Men in Black 3", Rated "PG-13" for Adult Situations, Adult Language, Some Sexual Content, Violence, Mild Gore. Running Time: 1hr&46mns.
My Take *** (Out of ****) -or- On the IMDb Scale: 7/10
After 16 years, we are still experiencing a particular Hollywood trend. I will call it "The Big-Budget Will Smith Fantasy-Summer-Movie." Sorry for coming up with such a long name for this trend, but it sure seems to ring true, doesn't it? Since 1996's "Independence Day", there have been many summers like what I just described. Back then, I did not realize Will Smith would have that kind of staying power. Here we are 15 years after the original "Men in Black" film hit multiplexes and Will Smith is still going strong.
The "Men in Black" film series is loosely based on an early '90s comic book series about a secret government organization which monitors supernatural phenomena, alien activities and safeguards against alien threats. These premises must have been in vogue in the early '90s, as at the same time there was a television series similar in structure that had the tagline "Trust No One" (that show also had a "foxy" redhead for additional sex appeal). For the "Men in Black" films, the supernatural angle has been dropped in favor of staying focused on alien matters only.
"Men in Black 3" (with a standard numeral in the title unlike the second movie that featured a Roman numeral "II") is an unlikely sequel. The other two "MiB" movies were self-contained adventures and the interest of a third installment really wasn't in demand. The good news is "Men in Black 3" is actually a decent continuation.
The movie opens with the escape of the intergalactic criminal Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement, "Dinner for Schmucks") from his 40-year incarceration in the Lunar-Max Penitentiary. He is one volatile, mean and ugly hombre. He is also the last survivor of his conquering race of Boglodites that destroy worlds. He was put on ice in 1969 by Special Agent "K" (Tommy Lee Jones, "Captain America") at Cape Canaveral during the Apollo 11 launch. In the pursuit, Boris lost his left arm and swore revenge on Agent K at all costs.
The plan Boris has is a fairly simple one: he will go back in time to the events that lead to his apprehension and kill Agent K. To do so would have a catastrophic effect on the future. In the original timeline, Agent K is also responsible for placing a special global shield on the tip of the Apollo 11 module that was activated in orbit to protect Earth from the imminent invasion of the Boglodites. Without Agent K to put the shield in place the world is in one heck of a predicament.
Boris the Animal has a run-in with Agent K and his partner Agent J (Will Smith, "I am Legend") before time-traveling to the past. His parting words to K are "You are already dead. You just don't know it yet." How prophetic, as the timeline is changed the moment Boris goes back. The only person unaffected by the changes is Agent J. He is aware of the timeline changes. He did not change with it because he is believed to have been present at the events in 1969. Therefore, we have a time paradox, and it is now necessary for Agent J to venture to the past.
"Men in Black 3" has fun with time-travel on several fronts, the best one involving meeting the younger Special Agent K in 1969. He's played by Josh Brolin ("True Grit") who was made to look like actor Tommy Lee Jones. That's easy enough to do with a little make-up and combing his hair a certain way. Brolin stands out in the role by his posture, mannerisms and speech patterns. He is so uncannily like Tommy Lee Jones in his performance. Allegedly the film's director Barry Sonnenfeld (who directed all the movies in this series) shed tears of relief during Brolin's audition. Having Brolin cast is better than any of the over-the-top special effects that could have made Tommy Lee Jones look younger.
An interesting addition to this picture is the alien Griffin (Michael Stuhlbarg, "Hugo"). He is one of the most likable and engaging characters I've seen in years in the movies. Griffin, like Boris, is the last of his race and living on Earth. He dresses like the video camera kid from "American Beauty" (1999) and the youngsters from "South Park" (1999). He is able to envision the futures of various possible outcomes which he sees in his mind. He is humble and wise as he delights in the simple things, like the outcome of a baseball game that hasn't happened yet. How he aids Agents K & J in their mission is one of the movie's charms.
Like its predecessors, "Men in Black 3" is special effects laden, mostly involving the various alien races that reside on Earth in hiding. They are creative in appearance and at times surprising in their individual functions. Take Boris the Animal for instance. He is symbiotic with parasitic creatures that live in his palm. Too weird. In keeping with the other films, this one is heavy with goo. Whether it is an alien being splattered or simply goo oozing out of them, the "MiB" movies love their goo. I'm not sure why these movies adhere to this prerequisite. No doubt there is some marketing "goo"-ru behind this.
"Men in Black 3" is a fun popcorn movie. It is light and easy to get into. "The Big-Budget Will Smith Fantasy-Summer-Movie" for 2012 is a gooey good time. By the film's closure there is new light shed on the K and J dynamic. It's unexpected and touching. A third movie in a series seldom has originality and heart. This one does.