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More and more, studios are trying to blend chick flicks with guy movies—to open their films up to a wider audience. And that, my friends, is how we end up with movies like McG’s This Means War, with its strange mix of explosions and chick flick clichés.
This explosive love triangle focuses on the guys: Tuck (Tom Hardy) and FDR (Chris Pine), a pair of CIA field agents who are both partners and the best of friends. Really, though, they couldn’t be less alike. Tuck is laid-back and mild-mannered, with an ex and a young son who both think he’s just a wimpy travel agent. FDR, on the other hand, is a shameless player, bringing a new girl back to his bachelor pad every night.
After a botched operation gets them both grounded, Tuck decides to give dating another shot. So he signs up for an online dating service, where he meets Lauren (Reese Witherspoon), a product tester whose married best pal Trish (Chelsea Handler) set her up with a racy profile. The relationship seems perfect—until Lauren unknowingly agrees to go on a date with FDR, too, setting off a massive competition between the two best friends.
From there, the film follows the usual rom-com clichés—times two—as the men compete for Lauren’s heart while trying to keep from letting on to the object of their affections that they know each other. The result is absolutely maddening—both because you’ll know that the relationships are so clearly headed for disaster and because Lauren’s ongoing attraction to both men is baffling.
Though Lauren’s attraction to Tuck makes perfect sense—after all, they hit it off on their first date—her relationship with FDR makes no sense whatsoever. From their first meeting, she sees right through his smooth-talking playboy ways—and she’s absolutely (and understandably) repulsed by him until a chance (or perhaps contrived) encounter brings them together. While Tuck seems to be the perfect guy (and, well, he’s Tom Hardy—how can you compete with that?), FDR never becomes particularly likeable. There’s just something shallow and immature (and more than slightly slimy) about him—and that makes Lauren’s inability to choose all the more frustrating.
Meanwhile, though the film is supposed to offer the perfect mix of romance and action, thereby satisfying both male and female viewers, both audiences might end up feeling just slightly let down—women by the perplexing love triangle and men by the lack of over-the-top adventure. The explosions are pretty grand (in true McG style), but the duo’s deadly mission feels like an afterthought—just a feeble attempt to get male movie lovers’ attention.
Of course, if you’re just looking for a brainless adventure that the guys and girls can agree on, This Means War makes a decent pick for a laid-back Couples’ Movie Night. Just don’t expect either half of the group to be entirely satisfied by this half-hearted romantic-action-comedy.
DVD Review:
If This Means War leaves you feeling less than satisfied, you might want to take a look at the DVD’s special features menu. There, you’ll find a few extras that will make you feel a little bit better about how things play out.
The disc includes three deleted scenes with optional director commentary—one of which helps to build the relationship between Lauren and FDR a bit better. Witherspoon’s fans will also want to check out “Lauren Freaks Out” for more of the actress’s over-the-top antics.
Meanwhile, if you find yourself wishing for a different ending, check out the alternate endings—both of which seem to make a lot more sense than the final one.
And, finally, if you want a look behind the scenes (or if you just wonder what McG was thinking when he made the movie), take some time to play the director’s commentary, which offers the usual anecdotes and explanations.
The disc may not be loaded with extras, but it includes a few worthwhile features nonetheless. So, after you watch the movie, check out the extras—because they may just leave you feeling a little bit better about the experience as a whole.
