Men In Black 3 (2012)

4/5

Men In Black 3 is the sequel that nobody asked for and that everybody was surprised by. It offers an origin story for both leads that brings complexity and depth to the characters, making them more authentic and infinitely more heartwarming. You wouldn't expect that from a simple sci-fi action comedy--and you wouldn't expect for it to be done so expertly--but it gives us all that on top of everything else that makes the series so watchable. Past all the superfluous and silly special effects, past all the precisely-delivered one-liners, past all the action and excitement, the movie leaves an indelible mark in your memory because it plucks the heartstrings so powerfully. Honestly, seeing that finale just made my heart drop a little. How can you not feel something when you discover what turned Josh Brolin into Tommy Lee Jones? That small, perfect moment at the end is what makes Men In Black 3 the best of the series. And what makes me want to see it again and again.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1409024/

Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013)

4/5

Star Trek: Into Darkness is a phenomenally thrilling summer blockbuster and not much more. This time, the intrepid crew of the USS Enterprise finds themselves thrust unwittingly into the midst of a budding intergalactic war that could end with Earth's destruction. The villain is a genetically-engineered super-human (Cumberbatch) who has nothing but vengeance on his mind. Taking place a short time after the first one, the characters have not grown or matured at all since we last saw them. They are as familiar and simplistic as they were previously, with flat personalities and predictable motivations.

But the movie is better than its predecessor thanks to a more engaging story and more exciting action. The plot is nothing to write home about, but it propels the characters forward with nigh unstoppable velocity. The cinematography is fraught with the same ubiquitous lens flares that plagued the previous film. The real surprise--for me, at least--is Cumberbatch. He is charming but devious, cunning but friendly, repulsive but inviting. He makes the movie stand out, and I can't wait to see him in more stuff (Sherlock is next on my long list of TV shows to watch).

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1408101/

She's Out Of My League (2010)

4/5

She's Out Of My League is a male-oriented romantic comedy about an average-looking guy named Kirk (Baruchel) who gets asked out by a "hard 10" named Molly (Eve). The plot is fairly simplistic and follows the basic formula of all romantic comedies: guy meets girl, guy and girl disagree about something that is usually fixed in a day, guy and girl make up and live happily ever after. But throughout the movie we get the sense that something is amiss; why is a 10 hitting on a 5? The answer is pretty obvious and fairly benign, so don't go into the movie expecting some surprise ending where all secrets are revealed. In fact, the plot itself is the least interesting part about this movie. The most interesting part about this movie, on the other hand, is something you'll find out in the next paragraph.

As in all good movies, the characters are the heart of the film. They sparkle with familiarity and honesty; they are unique without feeling written. They are acted well, which helps elevate them off the printed page. The jokes are strong as well, especially when emotions or tensions bubble up and eliminate their inhibitions. We see what really makes these people tick and what fools they make of themselves when they lose their cool. And when they do, it's pretty cool to find out that there are real human beings beneath the fictional characters. Taken as a whole, She's Out Of My League isn't the most original movie, but cliches are repeated for a reason. They work. And so they do in this movie as well, which I highly recommend for a good laugh.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815236/