2012 - MEN IN BLACK 3, third in the series obviously.

 Considering the law of diminishing returns when it comes to sequels, Men in Black 3 is actually a fairly decent action comedy.  The film was notorious for being one of the most expensive comedies made when it was released.  Men in Black 3 started without a complete script and actually shut down while the script was finally completed.  For the mess the production was the film turned out well.  It got  decent reviews  and good box office results which must have been a relief to everyone involved.

This time Will Smith as Agent J, travels back in time to keep his partner Agent K,  played by Tommy Lee Jones from being killed by an evil alien.  Tommy Lee Jones is K in the present time and Josh Brolin is K back in the 1969 period during the last half of the film.  Brolin is actually fairly funny playing a younger version of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith does know a thing about comedy timing, he is funny.

 

Probably the real stars of the film are the special effects team.  Rick Baker was responsible for the actual physical aliens and the director Barry Sonnenfeld knows a thing or two about filming comedies.  I don't want to over praise this film, after all it's still a sequel as it does repeat the usual "aliens are among us"gags from the first two films.  Still, the film is entertaining 

 

Written By Etan Cohen, no relation to the Cohen brothers, the running time is 105 minutes.

2001 - THE TICK, very funny superhero spoof

Ben Edlund's goofball superhero series is very funny and very weird.  Unfortunately it was just to weird for the television viewing audience.

This version of The Tick lasted only nine episodes but they are nine very funny episodes.  Edlund has such a warped vision of comic book superheros that once you watch the big blue avenger's clueless fight against evil and mostly past their prime super villains, it's hard to take another Marvel movie seriously.

The Tick and his crime fighting partner Arthur (dressed as either a bunny or a moth or something) are ably assisted by the Wonder Woman like Captain Liberty and the hilarious send up of the Batman character,  Batmanuel.

Edlund doesn't seem to have much luck finding a way for The Tick to get mainstream acceptance on TV.  However.  the character continues to bounce back so far in an animated series and another 2016 live action series that also failed with the public. I'm sure The Tick will turn up again.

The running time for this series is 198 minutes, Ben Edlund, primary writer for the series.

1995 - GET SHORTY, gangsters vs Hollywood

 Lone Shark "Chilli" Palmer is in Hollywood to collect some debts owed to some Miami gangsters.  While there he gets the movie bug and decides he wants to produce films.  Little does he know the movie business is just about as cutthroat as the gangster business.

Get Shorty is probably John Travolta's last decent role as "Chilli" Palmer.  He's mister cool dressed in black with his hair slicked back. Gene Hackman is the B movie producer he gets involved with who has aspirations of being a big shot.  Rene Russo is the small time actress and current girlfriend of Hackman. She's someone who has been "rode hard and put up wet"  as they say.  The film is stylishly directed by Barry Sonnenfeld who has a knack with comedy.

Thriller writer Elmore Leonard wrote the book on which the movie is based.  Leonard had spent plenty of time in Hollywood writing westerns so he probably knew a thing or two dealing with sleazy movie industry people.  The film is very funny.

Scott Frank wrote the screenplay. Running time 115 minutes