It takes a lot of passion to keep a three-time-sequel alive following a second installment that didn’t fare so well over ten years ago.  But Director Barry Sonnenfeld goes beyond that passion in instilling the spirit of the original comedy with sharp dialog, fun visuals and infusing the storyline with lots of silly punch.  And honestly, he didn’t really need the optional 3D to do it. 

Agent J (Will Smith) and Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back with all their odd-couple bickering as two police detectives who save the world from aliens.  But their anti gets upped when Boris (part creature and part man) escapes from prison destined to kill the man – Agent K – who is responsible for his lost limb many years before.

In order to save the situation, our boy Will learns from Agent O (Emma Thompson) that he must go back in time – to the summer of 69 – in order the make the future turn out right.  And back in time is where he meets rookie Agent K (Josh Brolin).  Brolin does a superb job metamorphosing into Jones’s grumpy persona and Thompson (the quintessential British boss – think Helen Mirren in any Bond-type film) keeps the agency in check with her sexy in-control accent and agent-in-command demeanor.  But it’s the pop culture references that really steal the show when we’re reminded of a world post Nam and Mad Men,but not quite ready for a black man (Smiith) dressed in black. 

A smart, sassy film that moves past summer action flicks with a huge dose of sophistication and a rocking summer single from [artist] Pit Bull.  Three and a half tiaras