Men in Black 3 Review

The past breathes new life into J and K.
Full review by Isaac Handelman

Men in Black 3 is not your average three-quel. It takes the troubled franchise in brand new bold directions that many wouldn’t have dreamed to ever see included in the Men in Black brand. While this doesn’t necessarily make MIB 3 the series’ finest (and it’s definitely not a complete return to the pristine form of the original), it is a rock solid, wholly enjoyable romp that anyone with the slightest bit of affection for Men in Black will wholeheartedly embrace. 

As I’ve already touched on, MIB 3 doesn’t play it nearly as safe as would be expected. It tries hard to bring its aging brand to new places, and it mostly succeeds. The narrative follows the pursuits of Agent J (Will Smith, in his first film since 2008’s Seven Pounds) as he travels back to 1969 in an attempt to reverse the effects of an otherworldly serial killer traveling back to seek vengeance on Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). Once in the past, J encounters a younger version of K (Josh Brolin), and the duo teams up on a desperate chase to catch the killer and stop an impending alien invasion. 

The main villain isn’t all too compelling, and the oncoming invasion is never fully realized in scope or scale, and as a result it never feels fleshed out or at all tangible. The most interesting thing about MIB 3 turns out to be its seemingly gimmicky historical setting. The 1960s setting isn’t used to its full potential, but there are a few well-crafted 60s cliches (hippies, Andy Warhol, racial prejudice, etc.) put to use that provide situational humor as well as some chuckles for viewers who happen to see what’s going on in the background. Towards the end of the film, we’re also treated to a huge 60s event which ties into the main plot in a surprisingly creative way, furthering the modest effectiveness of the time period.

However, what the 60s setting allows for that truly boosts this sequel considerably in quality is its ability to introduce Agent K’s younger self. Josh Brolin shares the same impeccable chemistry that Tommy Lee Jones does with Will Smith, and Brolin alone does a spectacular job of realizing a 29-year-old K who retains the amusing seriousness of his older self while still keeping a decidedly looser persona in line with the times and his age. 


Slightly surprisingly due to its reportedly huge budget, MIB 3’s special effects are definitely not up to par with most of today’s Hollywood blockbusters. Luckily, the film’s considerably smaller scale means it doesn’t focus too much on this shortcoming. That doesn’t change the fact that a few moments in the film feel a tad tacky, though this also adds to the over-the-top, goofy tone. The problem is also offset by sharp direction and some stylish cinematography, as well as the finale, where we’re treated to some marvelous visual effects.

What’s perhaps most surprising about MIB 3’s already untraditional approach is its strong emotional poignancy. It wouldn’t be a stretch to call this the strongest entry in the series yet in terms of its emotional impact. I’ll be careful not to spoil anything, but there’s a phenomenal twist right near the conclusion that no one will see coming. Not only does it provide some satisfying shock value previously unseen in the series, but it supplies a considerable amount of food for thought, and, by its conclusion MIB 3 has cemented the J/K relationship in a way both the other series entries failed to do.

Men in Black 3 was a risky move on the part of the filmmakers. It takes a financially successful series in bold new directions, but it still exudes the iconic Men in Black identity in almost every way. It’s also driven by likable characters and a typically great score by Danny Elfman. That’s not to say this three-quel is perfect, and, and though it easily trumps the first sequel, it (unsurprisingly) fails to surpass the original in quality. But that shouldn’t deter any tried and true Men in Black fan (or openminded newcomers) from giving this entry a go. Like it or not, MIB has become a franchise, not a stand-alone film, so you have no reason not to embrace this fact and enjoy what’s offered up. MIB 3 provides proof that the brand has plenty of potential moving forward, but if this is the last we’ll see of the Men in Black, it’s a suitable sendoff for everyone’s favorite alien-hunting duo. 

Final Score:
7.0/10
“Good”

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