The Agency goes Back to the Future
Life goes on for Agent J (Will Smith) and Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) even though Zed has passed on and Agent O (Emma Thompson) is now in charge at the agency. But then Boglodite alien Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement) escapes from prison on the Moon and heads to Earth and back in time as he has a score to settle with Agent K. Refusing to tell J what is going on J starts snooping around and when the now suddenly changes realises he needs to venture back in to the past and to 1969 to work with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to prevent Boris in the present.
Sometimes watching and reviewing movies can be a sobering experience and as I watched "Men in Black 3" I sadly realised I had outgrown the sort of movies which once would have been the mainstay of my movie watching. Either that or "Men in Black 3" is only average at best with obvious humour, a reliance on Will Smith and special effects to carry it. Having said that it is certainly an improvement on the disappointing "Men in Black 2".
Now "Men in Black 3" is in truth a simple movie, Boris the Animal has escaped from prison and gone back in time which changes things in the present with Agent K suddenly disappearing from Agent J's life so J goes back in time to work with the young Agent K to prevent Boris's return to the past. Yes we are in "Back to the Future" territory with some time continuum malarkey yet in truth that is not what "Men in Black 3" is about nor is it what Boris the Animal gets up to.
What "Men in Black 3" is really all about is the agency back in 1969 from the interior of the building having a 1950s/60s feel about it as well as technology being larger such as a huge neuralizer. But more than that the reason why "Men in Black 3" works is thanks to Josh Brolin who makes the movie with his frighteningly accurate imitation of Tommy Lee Jones. From the look to the voice to the little mannerisms it is so complete that if they ever wanted to do a biopic on Tommy Lee Jones it is a no brainer as to who they cast. As for Will Smith, well he does the Will Smith thing which he did in the previous "Men in Black" movies which is good especially if you are a fan but now is kind of predictable.
What this all boils down to is that "Men in Black 3" is entertaining and the journey back to 1969 is amusing with some enjoyable visual gags. But the truth is that it is Josh Brolin who makes "Men in Black 3" and if it wasn't for his spot on imitation of Tommy Lee Jones it would be only just about okay.