Men in Black III manages to be relevant to franchise

While it has a decent storyline, Men in Black 3 lacks the wit and fun of the original.

Josh Brolin, left, and Will Smith in Men in Black III. Courtesy Columbia Pictures

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin
***

After a 10-year absence, Will Smith returns as Agent J, now a veteran member of the secretive Men In Black. When his partner K (Tommy Lee Jones) disappears, he must go back in time to 1963 to team up with the younger K (Josh Brolin) and prevent the villainous prison escapee Boris (Jermaine Clement) from altering history.

While the original Men in Black was comedy genius, the second film flapped around aimlessly for relevance, finding only lifeless performances and lame physical comedy. This time around, however, certain mistakes are rectified - notably, a credible villain and some fresh faces to liven up the cast. Also added is an attention to detail (thanks to some amazing sets and the master make-up artist Rick Baker's handiwork) and scale not found in any of the previous films, with two very impressive lunar action set pieces bookmarking the film. It's still lacking the sense of wit and fun that made the 1997 film a worldwide smash hit, but at least this feels like a story worth telling.

Although the story and action are more polished, a big weakness can be found in the energy (or lack of) in the formerly million-dollar duo of J and K. Jones has very little screen time, and struggles to rekindle the same sardonic wit that made him a comedic secret weapon. Smith, while hardly looking as tired and unenthusiastic as his co-star, has also lost a lot of the youthful exuberance of his mid-1990s heyday. Although the "world's biggest movie star's" trademark charm is still there in droves, you get the feeling that as an actor, he's outgrown these kind of films. Brolin turns in a spot-on imitation as the young K, while Emma Thompson has some great moments as the MIB boss O, but she is certainly no Rip Torn. The real surprise package is a heavily made-up Clement as the film's snarling baddy, surprisingly fearsome for an actor whom hitherto had solely dealt in comedy.

Overall, the feeling gained from watching Men in Black III is one of frustration - relief that it transcends the listless and formulaic second film, but frustration that it only just does enough to keep the franchise relevant. Feeling more akin to a theme-park ride than a creditable sequel, the effects, gags and star charisma keep you interested enough to leave the cinema without feeling you've been cheated, but it hardly whets your appetite for more of this now 15-year-old franchise.