This Means War
3.5/4
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Chelsea Handler, Angela Bassett
Rated PG-13 for Sexual Content, including References, Violence and Action, and for Language
Frequently in romantic comedies, it begins with the guy banging chicks left and right until he meets a girl who causes him to re-evaluate his life and settle down with her. This time, it's girl's night (although it is suggested that this is how Chris Pine's character lives, but never mind). Finally, a romantic comedy where the girl isn't a virginal saint.
Lauren (Witherspoon) is a young single who followed her boyfriend (Warren Christie) to LA, only to find him sleeping with his pilates instructor. Now single, she is signed up for an internet dating service by her salty friend Trish (Handler). There, she meets a handsome hunk named Tuck (Hardy), and they hit it off wonderfully (why people as good looking as Witherspoon and Hardy would ever need a dating service, but never mind). Later that night, she meets FDR (Pine), a womanizer that she initially blows off, but ends up going out with. Now, she can't decide who to stick it out with, and both of her respective relationships are getting more intense. But what she doesn't know is that Tuck and FDR are best friends and CIA agents, and are letting her decide who she wants to end up with (they have an agreement not to interfere, but of course, neither one of them sticks to it).
Director McG must of had as difficult time directing this movie as screenwriters Timothy Dowling and Simon Kinberg had writing it. Making this movie work requires a delicate balancing act between the characters personal, professional and love lives, and McG makes it work. The characters are sufficiently developed, the chemistry is allowed to burn between them all (Pine and Hardy, Witherspoon and Pine, and Witherspoon and Hardy). And above all it's funny.
With a cast starring three of the best young actors working today, you can bet it's going to be strong in the acting department. Chris Pine makes for a lovable rascal, and Witherspoon is more at home in romantic comedies than anything else. The real surprise is Hardy, who is known for creating intense and brooding characters (his performance in "Warrior" is a case in point). But Hardy appears to be at home in a more lightweight setting and understands the concept of comic timing. Gay icon Chelsea Handler gets some big laughs as Lauren's girlfriend Trish (who's salty language caused the MPAA to initially give the film an R rating--definitely want to see the unrated version), and Angela Bassett is channeling Lynne Thigpen.
If there's any flaw, it's that the film spends a little too much time on the action oriented subplot featuring a terrorist played by Til Schweiger. Although it is fun and exciting (McG is primarily an action-oriented director), it takes attention away from the far more interesting romantic triangle.
Ironically, I expect this movie to build a sizable gay fanbase. It stars Chelsea Handler, who is huge in the gay community, and the homoerotic innuendos are hard to ignore (there's even a sexual innuendo about this, and it's pretty funny). Not that straight guys who are nervous about their sexuality will be turned off by it.
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Chelsea Handler, Angela Bassett
Rated PG-13 for Sexual Content, including References, Violence and Action, and for Language
Frequently in romantic comedies, it begins with the guy banging chicks left and right until he meets a girl who causes him to re-evaluate his life and settle down with her. This time, it's girl's night (although it is suggested that this is how Chris Pine's character lives, but never mind). Finally, a romantic comedy where the girl isn't a virginal saint.
Lauren (Witherspoon) is a young single who followed her boyfriend (Warren Christie) to LA, only to find him sleeping with his pilates instructor. Now single, she is signed up for an internet dating service by her salty friend Trish (Handler). There, she meets a handsome hunk named Tuck (Hardy), and they hit it off wonderfully (why people as good looking as Witherspoon and Hardy would ever need a dating service, but never mind). Later that night, she meets FDR (Pine), a womanizer that she initially blows off, but ends up going out with. Now, she can't decide who to stick it out with, and both of her respective relationships are getting more intense. But what she doesn't know is that Tuck and FDR are best friends and CIA agents, and are letting her decide who she wants to end up with (they have an agreement not to interfere, but of course, neither one of them sticks to it).
Director McG must of had as difficult time directing this movie as screenwriters Timothy Dowling and Simon Kinberg had writing it. Making this movie work requires a delicate balancing act between the characters personal, professional and love lives, and McG makes it work. The characters are sufficiently developed, the chemistry is allowed to burn between them all (Pine and Hardy, Witherspoon and Pine, and Witherspoon and Hardy). And above all it's funny.
With a cast starring three of the best young actors working today, you can bet it's going to be strong in the acting department. Chris Pine makes for a lovable rascal, and Witherspoon is more at home in romantic comedies than anything else. The real surprise is Hardy, who is known for creating intense and brooding characters (his performance in "Warrior" is a case in point). But Hardy appears to be at home in a more lightweight setting and understands the concept of comic timing. Gay icon Chelsea Handler gets some big laughs as Lauren's girlfriend Trish (who's salty language caused the MPAA to initially give the film an R rating--definitely want to see the unrated version), and Angela Bassett is channeling Lynne Thigpen.
If there's any flaw, it's that the film spends a little too much time on the action oriented subplot featuring a terrorist played by Til Schweiger. Although it is fun and exciting (McG is primarily an action-oriented director), it takes attention away from the far more interesting romantic triangle.
Ironically, I expect this movie to build a sizable gay fanbase. It stars Chelsea Handler, who is huge in the gay community, and the homoerotic innuendos are hard to ignore (there's even a sexual innuendo about this, and it's pretty funny). Not that straight guys who are nervous about their sexuality will be turned off by it.
Comments
Post a Comment