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Watch, Pass, or Rent Video Review: Men in Black 3

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:14:10 PDT

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back as the Men in Black when the third installment of the franchise hits theaters this weekend. This time around, Smith's character, Agent J, has to go back in time to rescue his partner (Josh Brolin plays the young Agent K). So does the film live up to the original, or is this just another unnecessary sequel? We'll tell you if the movie is a watch, pass, or rent.

Watch Will Smith and Jimmy Fallon Make Old-Timey Music Magic

Maggie Pehanick — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:35:46 PDT

Will Smith stopped by Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night to promote his new flick Men in Black 3 and ended up making some sweet, sweet music with the talk show host. Or, at least, their "great grandfathers" did. Turns out Smith and Fallon's relatives played together on a radio show and their tunes may have inspired some of Smith's hit songs, like "Parents Just Don't Understand." Though Smith remains adamant that he came up with the tunes on his own, the resemblance is remarkable . . .

Photo courtesy of NBC

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

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:00:00 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!

Name That Movie: Will Smith Edition

Maggie Pehanick — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:30:00 PDT

Will Smith has quite a knack for choosing roles in blockbuster flicks, and he's at it again this Friday in Men in Black III, reprising his role as alien-fighting Agent J. But before the movie hits theaters, see how well you know the superstar's filmography. Match the image to the corresponding title and let us know how you did!

Question 1 of 5

Name that movie:

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.

Will and Jada Cozy Up Courtside With Their Family

Lauren Turner — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 09:23:54 PDT

The Tech-Savvy Celebrities of CES

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:48:07 PST

CES isn't just for the geeks. As of late, the show sees its fair share of technology-loving celebrities, too. We spotted a slew of celeb-endorsed headphones from Ludacris, 50 Cent, and Jersey Shore stars Snooki and Pauly D, while LL Cool J promoted his music social network, and Will Smith hyped Men in Black III.

Click through the slideshow to see what all of Hollywood's tastemakers were up to during technology's biggest week!

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.