Review of This Means War (2012) by Midlands M — 19 Oct 2013

Combat Kirk Chris Pine and battling Bane Tom Hardy are CIA agents competing for the attention of celebrity chin Reese Witherspoon in this bit of Hollywood nonsense from Charlie's Angels director McG and I'll start by massively disagreeing with the critics' reviews of this (Ebert's especially which refers to the lack of reality in how they divert funds for their own ends - are you serious? It's not a documentary!) as although it contains many a cliché with nods to films such as Mr.

and Mrs. Smith and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels it's obviously not aiming too high and done with a fair dash of fun and I laughed more than many a modern "comedy" film. The brainless movie reminded me of a throwback to 80s inoffensive romance hokum like Bird on a Wire or Overboard which were about ridiculous concepts played for laughs with dollops of action rivalry.

Yes, Witherspoon sleepwalks her performance and Pine and Hardy are mainly just okay as the feuding buddies playing one-upmanship games throughout, but for a date-night bit of superficial frolicking, avoid the stuffy critics and enjoy the dumb fun that's streets ahead of the similar Knight and Day.

7/10 Midlands Movies Mike.