Film review: Men in Black 3

We knew from Men in Black 2 that Stallone and George W Bush were normally resident on other worlds and so we were all waiting with bated breath for more revelations of that kind.
But all we discover is that the film industry is full of people who like being in films, even if it’s only an uncredited bit-part.
A close study of the cast and crew of MiB3 reveals that Justin Bieber, Tim Burton and Lady Gaga all appear, albeit briefly, during a 1960s party where everyone says “Hey man” quite a lot.
Mind you, just take a look at Burton…
The ’60s theme comes about because of the escape of a nasty piece of alien work called Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement) from a Moon prison.
He was holed up there by a very young Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) and now Boris wants his revenge by going back in time to kill K and so enable an invasion of the Earth by all Boris’ friends and relations.
When any film starts relying on time travel for its plot line, you should begin to get worried, because it’s usually an indication of the following type of production thinking.
“Hey, you guys, how are we going to get everyone gripped with excitement this time? Great, I know, let’s use the old time travel ploy.”
And, I’m afraid that the franchise is starting to show its age, rather like Tommy Lee Jones’ face, which is now about as craggy as an Venusian’s bottom.
Will Smith looks bored half the time, staring around as if hunting for the next smart quip that made the original Men in Black so entertaining.
Just to spread the blame about the world a little, director Barry Sonnenfeld has hauled in Emma Thompson as a stiff-lipped Brit who may or may not have smoothed Agent K’s craggy brow in the past.
Josh Brolin also stands around not doing a lot, acting as a younger K while around all of them, the special effects whiz and wander.
On the basis of performance, Boris the Animal is the highlight, having a nasty way of dispatching people using a quill-flinging crab while laughing insanely like my old French teacher.
It’s rather disappointing, seeing a great franchise squander all its public goodwill on something where the actors seemingly give off a palpable air of not wanting to be there.
The youngsters will still enjoy all the special effects, men of a certain age may well enjoy the sight of Boris the Animal’s leggy girlfriend and there’s a danger that too many in the audience will leave the cinema faintly dissatisfied
Review rating **