Review of This Means War (2012) by Cheyne L — 24 May 2013

This is the most action packed chick flick i've ever seen .. it's surprisingly more about Reese's conundrum than the men's pissing contest .. I think most women will find this movie their cup of tea .

. the scenes with Reese and her friend illustrate a woman's fantasy, how liberating and empowering it must be to date two handsome men at the same time and have them fighting over you .. what a fantasy indeed .

. the premise no doubt sets up a multitude of interesting possibilities, but that premise is at the same time so ridiculous that the proceedings are impossible to take seriously .. but it feels like it doesn't want to be taken seriously .

. what director wouldn't want their film to be taken seriously? anyways, who really cares? this film is obviously released at this time of year because distributors know that it would never make it as a true summer blockbuster .

. what can be said for this film is that the casting is good, the chemistry between our two charming male leads lends itself some ok moments, but that's all it is, a series of ok moments .. after a clunky opening the film finds it's pace, the dialogue is funny sometimes, but the motivations seem jilted .

. they pine for the affections of Reese's character, but it soon becomes something other than two men actually trying create a true relationship with this woman .. Pine's character is a playboy while Hardy's character is the one who seemingly wants her for more 'right' reasons .

. and who does she end up going with? if you can't guess, then you're giving this film too much credit .. McG is a action director and even those sequences here are sloppy, most notably a moment during the final action sequence where a car wrecks and explodes and in the next shot is completely intact and continues inexplicably rolling and rolling and rolling towards the three musketeers .

. it's sloppy and for no reason .. but audiences still respond positively to most of it because 'this means war' is shiny with great set pieces and quick pacing ..