It’s hard to believe that it’s been 15 years since the original Men In Black (MiB) hit the big screen.  And harder still to realize that it’s been 10 years since Men In Black II (MIIB).  I must have been neuralized or something.  Luckily all the years fall away once Will Smith’s Agent J and Tommy Lee Jones’ Agent K show up on screen in Men In Black 3 (MiB3).  Luckier still is that Josh Brolin does such a wonderful job as the younger Agent K; what could have been a hammy mimic performance that shot this movie in the foot instead breathes life into the series.  Yeah it’s the same old “Save The World” story we’ve seen before, but it’s just as much fun this time around.

It’s…modern day.  Agent J is attending a Men In Black staff meeting to welcome the newest head of the department, Agent O (Emma Thompson, clearly relishing the role but playing it straight).  But it’s not all welcome cake and coffee; a violent, dangerous alien criminal called Boris The Animal (played with wicked glee by Jermaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords) that Agent K imprisoned back in 1969 has escaped.  The next morning Agent J walks into the office to find that nobody remembers Agent K.  And oh yeah, the race of aliens Boris comes from — that were driven extinct by Agent K’s actions — are now about to take over Earth.  It’s up to Agent J to travel back to 1969 and prevent Boris from killing K so the world can get back to normal.  And you thought your job was a pain in the ass.

Tons of critics and real journalists have talked about how Rick Baker made over a hundred “real aliens” (read: no just-mask mockups) for this movie.  By the looks of things, he truly went all out; it’s a feast for the eyes that has me drooling over the idea of grabbing a Blu-Ray copy when it comes out so I can pause and scan to my hearts content.  The 3D here is a treat as well.  Is it worth the extra money?  I think it is, even though there aren’t too many things comin’ atcha, it’s obvious the folks that made this film put every effort in making this a full 3D experience.  So yeah, catch it with your own dark glasses if you can.  You’ll even look like an MiB, always a cool thing.

Two of my favorite things about this series didn’t make enough of an appearance in this installment.  Though there are a few tip-of-the-hats to Frank The Pug, the loveable alien mutt doesn’t make an appearance in MiB3.  The smoking, drinking, gambling Worm Guys also have a very limited role, more of a cameo and no singing, which is kind of a bummer.  Then again there’s so much action in this third installment that it’d be hard to find the time to wedge in a little acapella wormage.

The acting isn’t your typical goofball slapstick, it’s more of a mashup of comedy and drama; think Law & Order by way of Red Dwarf.  Newcomer Brolin holds his own amongst the weirdness, and as I’ve mentioned before his ability to channel Tommy Lee Jones is impeccable.  Still, Brolin is able to make K his own, so the wild groovy ride through 1969 isn’t just a plot device that you want to get through to get back to Jones.  It’s a seamless part of the film, which is a good thing ‘cause that’s the bulk of this story.

As with the other movies in this series, it’s the little things that make for a truly enjoyable experience.  The time-jump log book is something I’d love to get a full look at, because I’m sure there are several jokes placed in there for future Blu-Ray/DVD perusal.  Throwaway lines from the 1960s crew — like Andy Warhol (SNL’s Bill Hader, throwing himself into character and delivering a low-key but hilarious performance) — come at you hard and fast, leaving folks that know their history with the giggles.  Jet packs that look like Daleks, pie that helps you come up with solutions to your problems, and chocolate milk that’s a symptom of time displacement.  There’s nothing I like more than screenwriters that make it a point to deliver a well-rounded universe.  Kudos to to Etan Cohen (Tropic Thunder and the grossly under-appreciated Idiocracy), Lowell Cunningham (writer of the MiB comic series on which this particular film is based) and the rest of the writing crew.  As for the music?  The madly talented Danny Elfman has the reins, and the soundtrack is a blend of 60s groove and movie majesty.  “Back In Time”, the end credit rap — usually Will Smith’s thang — is done by Pitbull this time around, though it does have the Smith vibe.  The hook, a sample of Mickey & Sylvia’s “Love Is Strange” made famous in Dirty Dancing, is damn catchy.

MiB3 is a wild and crazy ride.  Sit back and enjoy it.  Sneak in some pie.