Thanks to Sony Pictures Australia, we had the chance to see Barry Sonnenfeld’s Men in Black 3 before its Australian cinematic release. This is our review of the film – but as usual – no matter what we say; we recommend that you still go to your local cinema and see the film because: There is no better critic than yourself!

Men in Black 3 is the new adventure of agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) facing a new threat to the world, after an intergalactic criminal known as Boris The Animal (Jemaine Clement) escapes from a lunar prison, traveling back to 1969 to change the future by killing K and unleashing an alien invasion in the present time. J must travel back in time to save his partner and the world but did not expect that the young agent K (Josh Brolin) was totally different from the cold blooded one he knew, as something happened that changed him which J will soon find out.

After almost 10 years from the first film, followed by a very average sequel, this third installment of the Men in Black franchise is a comeback to the elements that made the first one a hit, including funny celebrity cameos (including Lady Gaga as we reported before), old school alien designs and the unique comedy which Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones deliver when acting together.

The story is entertaining with back to the future factors which director Barry Sonnenfeld manages the “time travel” element very well during the film, such as racial discrimination against the afro Americans in 1969 (including some very funny jokes that reminds us of the jokes in the first film where K introduced J as Doctor “White”) and the first rocket to the moon as historical events. Moreover, the design of the aliens are very clever as you can see a touch of Oscar- winning designer Rick Baker in creating aliens in an old school era.

Better yet, the inclusion of Josh Brolin is the highlight of the movie who plays the role of the young agent K in such a fantastic way, you actually feel he is acting as Tommy Lee Jones, looking very familiar in many iconic facial expressions. Brolin also shows a fantastic chemistry with Smith during their time together on-screen, that you don`t even notice Tommy Lee Jones who for obvious reasons does not have much presence in the movie.

Another great cast is the ugly villain, Boris The Animal, played by Flight of The Conchords Jemaine Clement who is much better than the female villain Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle) in Men in Black 2. He is still cartoonish but scarier with his maniac laugh who has a stronger motivation: Revenge against K.

Music genius Danny Elfman is also back on the Men in Black team, delivering a great score using the iconic MIB original theme with some small changes to give it a modern yet old touch to the film.

The 3D works OK and as usual seems to be very unnecessary for this kind of movie as you only experience the 3D effect in a couple of scenes, and the rest is just layered as in most of the non animated 3D movies out there.

Men in Black 3, is a good comeback, including a twist on the plot at the end that MIB fans will surely love because it connects so many things for the saga, explaining the relationship between J and K even better. However, this film is not as good as the first one and for some reason you feel that something was missing to make you go WOW, like the original first film but it still delivers a solid space comedy which is heaps better than the second movie.

Men in Black 3 opens in Australian cinemas in 3D on May 24.
www.MenInBlack3.com.au