This Means War

Rating : 6/10
Release Date : 16th March, 2012 (India)
Time : 97 minutes
Director : McG; Writers : Timothy Dowling, Simon Kinberg; Music : Christophe Beck
Starring : Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Reese Witherspoon, Chelsea Handler, Til Schweiger, Rosemary Harris

They’re best mates, almost the only mate each has. They fall for the same girl. Ruin their friendship. She has a really hard time making up her mind on who to go with. Despite lots of advice from her happily married, sex crazy, opinionated friend. And oh, did I mention, both the guys are secret agents ?

You know where this is heading very soon into the film. The Daniel Craig-esque Tom is the quiet one, Brit, divorced, father of a boy, safe, still waters run deep kind of guy. Chris Pine is the smooth one, multiple relationships, has a glass swimming pool, the clubbing, I know the bartender / DJ / bouncer kind of guy. She loves her work, which is to review various consumer products and soon you know everything that is possible to know about her as the two use official resources to relentlessly tap & tail her. And oh, did I mention, they are chasing / being chased by a villain seeking revenge for his younger brothers death ?

I think they forgot about the villain midway through the film. Focused too much on the romance / wooing / spoiling the others courting. It felt a bit stretched there. The dialogue is good, witty enough to keep you listening and the best moments come from the way the two ‘fight’ each other, the teams both use to tail her and the kid who circles around with a bucket over his head.

Reese looks a tad old, stretched, lacking a few sparks from what she used to be. Chris and Tom are believable in their roles and Chelsea, playing Reese’s friend, is given a character that seems to be trying too hard to be quirky / funny.

It’s a one time watch, light, easy and uncomplicated without being mindless. And oh, did I mention that the action, when it happens, is good ?