Movie Review: 'This Means War' a good argument for peace
The film "This Means War," currently on view at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, stars Reese Witherspoon as Laure Scott. Which is good because she almost brings this turkey of a romantic comedy to life all by herself.
She isn't helped much by costars Chris Pine as FDR Foster and Tom Hardy as Tuck Henderson, CIA types and buddies. She is also aided by Chelsea Handler as Trish, her go-to buddy.
Which I guess makes this a double-buddy film, with Trish as Lauren's go-to extra ear. This is something new in movie genre, doubling up just like in Vegas.
Story is the two CIA guys bungle a mission and are grounded by their snippy boss. They kill the brother of a bad guy who comes back to car-chase them. Understandable, since the CIA guys fired off more ammo than used thus far in Afghanistan (by both sides). One way to start a love story.
The two dawdle their time in plush CIA sci-fi offices and separately meet Lauren and fall for her. The discover via laptops that they are both pursuing the same woman, Lauren, who is a consumer products tester (not that it matters in this jumble). She finds them both acceptable and dates them sort of.
The guys take turns trying to get Lauren to bed and succeed in a mismatched way; all the time that Lauren is being coached about sex and marriage ("I think I'm going to hell," says Lauren, with Trish saying "Don't worry, I'll be there to help you." Not exactly the best script of our times.)
The two guys wind up in a battle in a restaurant that just about destroys the place and walk out calmly, leaving the debris behind but not a soul to clean things up. Speak about sloppy directing (by McG, whoever that is) and editing.
The brother of the slain bad guy turns up and mayhem obtains but all who count survive. It all ends with Tuck getting Witherspoon while Pine goes back to his wife and son.
All very sloppy. Ringing in the divorced wife is a mind-boggler although we've met the judo student son before, Trish pumps clothed sex on a floor and Tuck goes to sleep while in bed with Lauren (shades of impossible here).
Reese is full-strength cute here, although she's getting a little old of tooth for such role, and her comedy skills are on overdrive. Too bad she had to display them in such inept surrounding acting.
A"date"movie of sorts, if your date is somewhat brain dead. And no fun for the kiddies, except those who dote in car chases and lots of shooting. It's PG-13, if that matters.
And why the name FDR? Is nothing sacred?
--- Sam Bauman
Cast
• Reese Witherspoon as Lauren Scott
• Chris Pine as FDR Foster
• Tom Hardy as Tuck Henson
• Chelsea Handler as Trish
• Til Schweiger as Heinrich
• Laura Vandervoort as Britta
• Leela Savasta as Kelly
• Angela Bassett as Collins
• Abigail Spencer as Katie
• Panou as CIA Handler
• Patrick Sabongui as Agent Robbins
• John Paul Ruttan as Joe
• Jenny Slate as Emily
•
Directed by McG
Produced by Robert Simonds
Will Smith
James Lassiter
Simon Kinberg
Screenplay by Simon Kinberg
Timothy Dowling
Story by Timothy Dowling
Marcus Gautesen
Music by Christophe Beck
Cinematography Russell Carpenter
Editing by Nicolas De TothRunning time 120 minutes