This Means War

Release Date: Feb 17, 2012

Runtime: 2 hr.

Director: McG 

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Til Schweiger, Chelsea Handler.

Take a ladies' man, a suave Brit, and one single female and you get a love triangle fit for disaster. Or rather, the spy comedy aptly titled "This Means War." From director McG, the mind behind the garish "Charlie's Angels" reboot, comes a rom-com that seeks the thrills but falters on premise. Starring the easy-on-the-eyes Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy, the film does no wrong in flaunting the looks and pairings of a likable cast. This includes the uninhibited humor of Chelsea Handler who, by default, steals the show when she's not inebriated. But underneath the layers of espionage and romance is a jumbled plot line that forgoes any logic, and haphazardly works to create a means of indifference. Pine and Hardy play the two spies respectively, neither more developed than the other. And it comes as a surprise to see Hardy take on such a banal role when he's capable of so much more, ie. "Warrior." It goes without saying that Witherspoon's character ends up with one of them, whether you care or not. The reason of why is another thing left untold, like who is FDR? Either way, while "This Means War" is by no standards a 'great' romantic comedy, it's good enough...if by 'good' you mean okay.

Rating: 2 stars

Safe House

Release Date: Feb 10, 2012 

Runtime: 1 hr. 54 min.

Director: Daniel Espinosa 

Cast: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then "Safe House" has all the proverbial trimmings. In his first U.S. debut, director Daniel Espinosa stays inside the box as he navigates through another action thriller about security and corruption. Denzel Washington is back in his element as Tobin Frost, an ex-CIA operative-cum-rogue agent. Upon obtaining a classified file, he is ambushed by mercenaries and emissaries alike, thus beginning a rugged chase through the streets of Cape Town. Though Denzel's known to play the good guy well, he plays the bad even better, and it's this adeptness that keeps him consistent—not to mention giving him that long-deserved Oscar for "Training Day." And while his performance here comes nowhere close to that caliber, he still devotes his time and energy to get the job done, admitting with some help along the way. Ryan Reynolds continues to demonstrate his abilities as an actor, building atop the benchmark he established in "Buried," and displaying a vulnerability that can't be ignored. The two spark an embattled partnership that's not too far off from Hawke and Washington's affiliation in the aforementioned "Training Day." But the story itself is less than refined, adopting cues from past films that are too obvious to miss. With this, we get predictable twists and familiar characters, some of which are mostly forgotten. Even so, Espinosa packs an ample dose of action and gunfire, making it more enjoyable than the other corresponding movie, "Haywire."

Rating: 3 stars

Chronicle

Release Date: Feb 03, 2012

Runtime: 1 hr. 23 min. 

Director: Josh Trank 

Cast: Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan, Alex Russell.

A wise man once said, "with great power comes great responsibility." And for three unsuspecting individuals, it's more than what they bargained for. Adapting the 'found footage' format, "Chronicle" begs the question of 'what if' and the repercussions that follow. When three high school students inherit superpowers overnight, their morals are put to the test, and the battle of willpower is all that separates them from the fringes of evil. Directed by newcomer Josh Trank, what seemingly begins as an archetypal superhero saga, gradually transforms, resulting in a deep-seated chronology that's remarkably original, if not compelling. Like "Cloverfield" and "Paranormal Activity" before it, "Chronicle" takes the unconventional route on a derivative genre, casting unknowns and using camera techniques to make it realistic and relatable. Dane DeHaan as Andrew, the awkward yet temperamental character, is frighteningly adept in showcasing his emotions, possessing an eerie quality that carries the film up until its epic climax. From the grounds to the sky, there's no limits to where the scenes take you, capturing the events as they unfold through the characters' eyes. But this is perhaps where the handheld camera method fails and is falsified, as there appears to be one readily available wherever they go. Additionally, there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to how this footage was discovered, other than the assumption by the viewer. Nevertheless, while "Chronicle" certainly won't be the last of its kind, it affirms that the novelty hasn't worn out quite yet. Sooner or later, there will be more found footage, and its contents will essentially be revealed.

Rating: 3½ stars