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Men in Black 3: A Return to (Alien Life) Form

Becky Kirsch — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:29:01 PDT

I saw the original Men in Black movie so long ago that my memories of the film might as well have been zapped with a neuralyzer (that's the memory-erasing device the guys use in the movie, for those of you who are also having trouble recalling the original). What I did retain is that the film was funny, fresh, and silly and that it didn't hold up very well for the 2002 sequel. With that in mind, I had low expectations for Men in Black 3, but the newest installment is just as much fun as the original, and it actually benefits from the 15-year time lapse.

The script for the film is one of its biggest assets and truly sets Men in Black 3 apart from its predecessors. The aliens are still alive and ickier than ever now that they're in 3D, but the story is more focused on the friendship between J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) and how it has evolved over the years. We learn early on that K has been keeping a secret from J all these years, and the mystery drives a wedge between the partners. Meanwhile, a treacherous alien named Boris the Animal (played to hilarious perfection by Flight of the Conchords's Jemaine Clement) breaks out of maximum-security prison and goes back in time to get revenge on K, who arrested him back in the '60s. The day that K had Boris locked up is the key to K's secret, so J heads on a mission back in time to save K and learn the truth.

To see why Men in Black 3 is so much fun, just

Will Smith hasn't been in a movie since 2008's Seven Pounds, and I didn't realize I missed him until I found myself giggling all the way through Men in Black 3. His shtick is still the same (he's one-liners still consistent of dialogue like "Where did you come from? Planet damn?"), but you can't help but love Agent J as he bumbles through the '60s, desperately trying to sell his story to people who don't recognize him - or believe him. You can tell that Smith feels completely comfortable in the role, and in the signature suit, which still looks perfect on him, as he hasn't aged a day.

Tommy Lee Jones is ever the reliable curmudgeon, but the film mines extra laughs when J travels to the '60s and meets a much younger version of his partner, played by Josh Brolin. Brolin looks enough like Jones to pass for him, but it's really his studied delivery and mannerisms that sell the performance. We also get some insight into how K has evolved over the years (he's always had a penchant for cowboy music, but he also used to be a bit of a dreamer), giving the film an extra layer to the enjoyable banter between J and K.

I'm not usually one to gush about 3D, but the special effects really come to life in Men in Black 3 in a way they never did in the first two movies. Not only do the aliens look creepier than ever, but the cartoonish feel of the film is taken to the next level with the 3D aspect, especially with the time-travel thrill-ride element. Much like with the 3D movies from my youth, I found myself shrinking in my seat just to avoid being too close to the alien goo, blood, breath, and beyond. Combined with the welcome return of Will Smith, you've got yourself a fun, mindless blockbuster.

Photos courtesy of Sony

Video: Hear Will Smith Rap and Reveal MIB 3's "Secret Weapon"

Karli Bulnes — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:20:46 PDT

Will Smith celebrated his return to the silver screen with a star-studded premiere and rap performance! We hit the red carpet at Men in Black 3's debut in New York, where Will reveals the movie's "secret weapon" in today's PopSugar Rush.

Will Smith Brings MIB 3 to NYC With Help From His Costars and Family

Meghan Rooney — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:15:32 PDT

Will Smith and his Men in Black 3 costars brought their Summer blockbuster to NYC last night after a string of European premieres. Will looked dapper in a checkered Gucci suit accompanied by wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who recently returned from the Cannes Film Festival, where she promoted Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. Will and Jada's kids Willow and Jaden were also on hand for the premiere, as were MIB 3 newcomers Josh Brolin, Alice Eve, and Michael Stuhlbarg, and franchise vet Tommy Lee Jones.

Will is back in the spotlight following a four-year filming hiatus. He's been busy with appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the Late Show With David Letterman. We caught up with the star at his Big Apple premiere to talk about his favorite memory from the three MIB films - stay tuned for that and more from his costars in this afternoon's PopSugar Rush!

Ryan Gosling and Sean Penn Play Cops and Robbers in the Gangster Squad Trailer

Becky Kirsch — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:08:51 PDT

Have you always thought that Ryan Gosling would look dapper in a 1940s suit? Well, you've come to the right place. In the trailer for Gangster Squad, Gosling and Josh Brolin play LAPD cops who are trying to take down a notorious gangster played by Sean Penn. As expected, the lines between good and bad are a little blurred as we see that the cops aren't necessarily sticking to a strict moral code.

It's fun to see Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling back on the big screen together again - her character appears to be with Penn but definitely shacks up with her Crazy, Stupid, Love costar. I'm already loving how stylish the film looks, right down to the cast's spot-on gangster accents. The film doesn't hit theaters until October, but check out the trailer when you

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Will Smith and Josh Brolin Take MIB3 on a Mission to Mexico

Lindsay Miller — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:59:22 PDT

Will Smith joined his Men in Black 3 costar Josh Brolin and rapper Pitbull, the man behind the movie's theme song "Back in Time," at the Summer of Sony press event in Cancun yesterday. In the movie, Josh plays a young version of the character Tommy Lee Jones originated in the franchise, while Will is reprising his role as Agent J. Yesterday, Josh told reporters that nailing his impersonation of Tommy Lee was a tall order, and that it was the toughest acting challenge he's taken on to date.

Part two in the Men in Black series came out a decade ago, and changes in the script, production delays, and the high cost of this edition all contributed to the lengthy delay between the second and third installments. MIB3 will hit finally theaters on May 25 and was one of several upcoming projects highlighted at the Summer of Sony preview, which kicked off over the weekend. Total Recall and Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained were among the other highly anticipated movies featured during the studio's south-of-the-border event.

Shirtless Josh Brolin Pops Up in Red-Hot Rio

Katie Henry — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:25:30 PST

Josh Brolin stripped off his shirt and relaxed in the sun off the coast of Brazil yesterday. The actor is in South America with his Men in Black III costars promoting their upcoming release. The film, which hits theaters in the US on May 25 prior to Memorial Day weekend, takes Will Smith's character back in time to meet up with a young Tommy Lee Jones, played by Josh - check out the first MIB trailer and let us know what you think! Josh has a busy few months ahead. In addition to prepping for MIB's international press tour Josh shares the big screen with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in the highly anticipated Fall release Gangster Squad.

Men in Black 3 Trailer: Will Smith Is Back and He Knows How to Time Jump

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:45:06 PST

Have you missed the Men in Black franchise terribly? It doesn't matter, because the trailer for Men in Black 3 is here for your consumption. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back as Agent J and Agent K, and it's alien business as usual, until Agent J discovers that the agency hasn't been telling him everything - particularly that his longtime partner K has been dead for a few decades. To get to the bottom of things, Agent K learns a fancy new trick that's even cooler than erasing the minds of citizens with fancy green lights: time travel. Thus when Agent J "time jumps" years earlier, we all get to meet the younger K, played by Josh Brolin, who does a fairly stunning if brief impression of Tommy Lee Jones.

It's been almost 10 years since the last Men in Black film, but forgive me if I say I'm not dying to see the third, especially now that the trailer shows so little in the way of plot. Still, I'm curious to see more of the Smith/Brolin dynamic, and hope that we get more of that in the future previews. Watch the teaser for now after the jump.

Ryan Gosling Gets Love From Eva Mendes and Even Bradley Cooper

Allie Merriam — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:30:32 PST

Ryan Gosling joined his Gangster Squad costar Josh Brolin on set in LA yesterday afternoon. Even in period costume, Ryan looked hot as he posed, smoked, and swigged from a prop flask. Ryan's back in California working with Josh after a romantic trip to Paris over Thanksgiving with a different costar. Ryan and his The Place Beyond the Pines leading lady Eva Mendes met up in France, where she was shooting Holly Motors. The couple were photographed taking loved-up strolls, hugging by the Eiffel Tower, and dining out with some of her new cast-mates. Eva has since returned to the West Coast, and was pictured catching up with her new-mom friend January Jones at dinner last week.

Eva is clearly a big fan of Ryan, and someone else has shown him some public love. People's Sexiest Man Alive Bradley Cooper thinks Ryan is hot. Bradley told UK chat show host Graham Norton that perhaps Ryan really deserved the magazine's honor after all. Bradley compared their street style saying, "[Ryan] literally looks like he's in a photo shoot, like he just came off the runway. I literally look like the neighbor who never comes really out of his house."

Ryan Gosling Spends a Night on Set With His Gangster Squad

Lindsay Miller — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:07:36 PDT

Ryan Gosling looked dapper in a gray suit and fedora last night in LA as he filmed scenes for The Gangster Squad. Ryan's leading lady, Emma Stone, wasn't working, but he was joined by Josh Brolin, Giovanni Ribisi, and Anthony Mackie. Emma and Ryan play love interests once again in the movie, bringing their chemistry to a drama after this Summer's comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love. Ryan has been hanging out on the West Coast as he shoots the period piece, and celebrated the LA premiere of The Ides of March earlier this week with his director George Clooney and his costar Evan Rachel Wood. Ryan was on his own at the red-carpet event, but George's girlfriend Stacy Keibler was on hand to take in the film yet again, having also joined him at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of the political drama earlier this month.

Ryan Gosling Goes Gangster With a Smoke on Set in LA

Molly Goodson — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:45:48 PDT

Ryan Gosling puffed on a cigarette with the pack tucked into his pants as he shot a scene on the set of The Gangster Squad in LA on Friday. He was joined by his costars Josh Brolin and Michael Pena for the day of work on their new mob drama set in the 1940s and '50s. Ryan has been going nonstop this Summer between promoting Drive, The Ides of March, and Crazy, Stupid, Love and shooting new projects like this one and The Place Beyond the Pines. This film will bring Ryan back together with Emma Stone, though he's rumored to be currently romantic with another costar, Eva Mendes, who he was spotted with at Disneyland earlier this month. Ryan's gritty, violent movie Drive is out this weekend to a largely positive reception - check out BuzzSugar's Drive review - and while doing press at TIFF, Ryan revealed his sweet side. He talked about trading acting for fatherhood someday and gushed about ex-girlfriends Sandra Bullock and Rachel McAdams.