‘Men in Black 3’ is summer comfort food with a fresh twist

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in ‘Men in Black 3.’ Rated PG-13, 103 min. Columbia Pictures, 2012.

Although it’s been 10 years since the previous film, the world of director Barry Sonnenfeld’s “Men in Black 3” is brought back to life in an instant. There’s the signature Danny Elfman music, the bizarre and slightly grotesque aliens, and most importantly, the always-amiable Will Smith strutting confidently in his black suit as Agent J, who helps protect the planet beside his long-suffering partner Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones).

While Smith is game and grinning as always, Jones appears almost disinterested in the project, so it’s a good thing the plot focuses on J following evil alien Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement) back in time to 1969 to save K, who is played in a younger incarnation by Josh Brolin. Miraculously, Brolin has the uncanny ability to perfect the mannerisms and speech patterns of Jones. Emma Thompson fits in well as the new boss, Agent O, and Bill Hader has a memorable scene as Andy Warhol.

The “Back to the Future”-like timeline-altering complications get quite involved by the end, but the frantic, nail-biting climax set at the launch pad of Apollo 11’s moon mission takes your mind off the plot holes.