‘This Means War’ has a little somethin’ for everybody. Today’s audiences are no strangers to love triangles. Shakespeare and Twilight aside, this one is pretty epic - and for all the right reasons.
BFF’s-slash-CIA agents FDR (Chris Pine, ‘Star Trek’) and Tuck (Tom Hardy, ‘Inception’) both start dating lonely-heart Lauren (Reese Witherspoon, ‘Legally Blonde’). Upon the realisation that they're both dating the same woman, the boys strike up a friendly war to win her heart, but as the stakes get higher, the boys' tactics get dirtier. FDR and Tuck use everything in their arsenal from hidden cameras to tranquilizer darts - even commandeering CIA personnel and equipment - to play their little game. But who will win? The big-hearted romantic single father Tuck? Or playboy but oh-so-yummy FDR? Let the war begin...
The two leading men have great on-screen chemistry, and as neither are strangers to action and possess charm in boat loads, these rolls fit them perfectly. Bestselling author/comedian turned late night talkshow queen Chelsea Handler plays Lauren’s best friend Trish, who interjects her hilarious pearls of wisdom throughout the movie, while outsiders repeatedly confuse her for a man (you’ll get it when you see the film).
Unfortunately, even though the film focuses on two top CIA agents, the action scenes are few and far between, and a little light on when they do come around - a little disappointing coming from director McG, whose winning formula of action and comedy was brilliantly displayed in 2000’s ‘Charlie’s Angels’. Luckily that's more than made up for in it’s humour, endearing nature and great characters.
The two leading men have great on-screen chemistry, and as neither are strangers to action.
The ultimate crowd-pleaser and date movie to leave everyone happy (especially in the eye-candy department with all three leads featured in moments of half-nakedness), this film is guaranteed to leave you smiling from either the romance, the laughs, or the action. In four words: This Movie Is Fun!
REVIEWER'S NOTE: After years of being subject to movie after movie of whiny people with a severe lack of self-esteem having to choose between the better guy or girl, I applaud the screenwriters for including this self-affirming little gem: “Don’t pick the better guy - pick the guy that makes you a better person.” Amen.