Men In Black III Review

Back In Black- is it the same old franchise in a new suit?
I went into Men In Black III with mixed expectations, spurred on by the uncertain critical standings the new sci-fi comedy seems to hold right now. Thankfully, though, I can happily report that with the latest entry in this cult franchise of adventures, the MIB team appear to have saved the best act of their trilogy for last. Although the time-travel element introduced here to send Agent Jay back into time to save his teammate K is well-trodden territory in the entertainment industry, the writers put it to surprisingly good use, introducing a few plot cipher characters to guide our way between the past and present that actually make for a positive impact on our understanding of the ridiculousness of it all. Better yet, on top of Will Smith's typically macho-but-sweet portrayal of our lead protagonist and Tommy Lee-Jones' brief reprise as K in the present-day scenes, we get a beautifully done impression of Lee-Jones from none other than Mr Josh Brolin, a rising star who puts his acting talents to such good use that I can't help but wonder whether he'll be picked up in some way for a fourth entry. Brolin actually provides much of the emotional core of the film in its incredibly moving denouement, an unexpected turn of events wonderfully wrapping up a standalone storyline that doesn't require memory of MIB or its sequel at all. He's even helped out by a host of famed co-stars, including cameos from the likes of Nicole Scherzinger, Emma Thompson and even Lady GaGa, all of which contribute nicely to a strong narrative with plenty of moments you won't see coming thanks to the relatively conservative marketing campaign. Is it all smooth sailing for MIB III, then? Not quite; at times, the film can't quite seem to decide what it wants to be, cruising from outright hilarious comedy to action setpieces to tear-jerking twists at regular intervals with little regard for whether viewers would find this to make for a tad disjointed experience. By no means does this occur frequently enough to ruin the huge enjoyment you'll get out of watching it, but all the same as with many other comedy films coming our way right now, it's a minor element that just separates the film from becoming an all-time classic. All the same, this is a refreshing change of pace for what was becoming an increasingly tired and predictable blockbuster franchise, adding newfound heart and thrills that really pack a great punch, even forcing hardened fans of the series to gain a wholly different perspective on the two agents they've followed for the best part of ten hours. When writers can make such a bold move after so much time having been invested already, it's truly a testament to their creative vision, and as such Men In Black III stands as a neat surprise of a comedic achievement for 2012, even if its shortcomings still hold it back from hitting the heights that the genre once did. If you get chance to go and see this in the Summer Of Film, though, by all means take up the great opportunity!
4/5