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