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| Still from This Means War |
It's completely over-the-top, but if it's gotta be done, this is exactly how it should be. Director McG (Terminator Salvation, Charlie's Angels) is back with Vancouver-filmed This Means War, pitting two Best Friends Tuck (Tom Hardy) and FDR (Chris Pine) - who happen also to be Spies - up against one another. Both experts in executing dangerous missions, they perhaps are up against their toughest assignment yet: winning the heart of the same Girl they happen to be dating in Lauren (Reese Witherspoon). Meanwhile, we learn that the dangerous Heinrich (Til Schweiger) is hot on their trails. Will Tuck and FDR self-destruct with their attentions focused on their own interests? Who will win Lauren's heart?
There are plenty of reasons to like This Means War. First of all, it doesn't hurt that your Principal Trio are extremely attractive, but truly the chemistry in this Love Triangle actually is believable, regardless how absurd the Movie's premise is. All extremes are reached by both Tuck and FDR to woo Lauren including Aerial Gymnastics, a violent derivative of Paintball, Dog Adoption, Sade and more. Really, what Girl wouldn't die to be in the shoes of Witherspoon's Lauren? By the end of it all, we still don't know whom she should choose as her Lover with both Suitors on equal footing, fighting tooth and nail to the finish line.
The emphasis on the Love Triangle however, comes at the expense of a sparse Subplot which should see both Heroes lives in danger, but there lacks a feeling of real threat from Heinrich. In addition to catering the the Ladies, McG fully is aware of his audience, winning the hearts of his Male audience too with a few powerful punches thrown-in for good measure and some edge-of-your-seat car chases; never a dull moment. Genuinely, the Film is in on its own jokes and the laughs indeed are plentiful. Both Pine and Comedienne Chelsea Handler will benefit most from their spot-on work here. One can expect big things of This Means War, in theatres February 17, 2012 via 20th Century Fox Films Canada.
