Agents J and K are back...in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K's life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him - secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.
If there ever is a "Men in Black IV" -- and at this point, it's hard to imagine one -- let's hope it finds that delicate balance between the yuks and the yucks.
– Michael O'Sullivan,
Washington Post,
25 May 2012
fresh:
The Smith-Jones duo's return as the titularly clad operatives, while not exactly essential, comes with the charms of reprised, well-liked characters and a "didn't-see-that-coming" conclusion that makes up for the first hour's sequelitis.
– Lisa Kennedy,
Denver Post,
25 May 2012
fresh:
It turns out to be reasonably entertaining, though not enough to make me crave Men in Black 4.
– Peter Rainer,
Christian Science Monitor,
25 May 2012
fresh:
The movie represents at least a partial return to form--not as inventive as the first, but surely better than the recycled materials that made up the second.
– Christopher Orr,
The Atlantic,
25 May 2012
rotten:
The script was enough of a mess to stop the shooting for high-priced rewrites, but you know what they say about washing garbage.