I’m not sure how we missed this one, but I can only assume it was intentional. If you do a search of our site for the name ‘McG’ you’ll find mostly negative comments, critiques and flat-out insults including us celebrating the idea of the director being launched into space on a one-way ticket. (Of course, you’ll also find my Transformers 2 review that inexplicably calls for an apology to be given to McG.)
But while we’re a month late in featuring this trailer for McG’s newest movie, we’re at least covering it with an open mind and a positive attitude. Because surprisingly, This Means War looks like it could actually be kind of fun.
Tom Hardy and Chris Pine play CIA agents at the top of their game. They’re partners and friends who have each others backs and would let nothing come between them. Nothing that is, except a hot blonde. When the two discover that they’re both dating the same woman (Reese Witherspoon) they decide to let her choose the better man. But that doesn’t mean they can’t try to hedge their bets using all the skills and equipment at their disposal. So yes, it’s basically Mad Magazine’s Spy vs Spy with a love story angle thrown in as motivation.
Check out the trailer below, and get ready to accept the fact that even with Chelsea Handler co-starring it doesn’t look anywhere near as bad as we all feared.
See? That actually looks like it could be pretty entertaining. It’s especially fun and refreshing to see Hardy in a comedic role after he teased a sense of humor in Inception. And tell me that line towards the end at Chelsea Handler’s expense isn’t killer. You can’t. Because it’s damn funny. And kudos to Handler for playing along and being the butt of the film’s best joke (most likely).
That dig aside the humor seems fairly middle of the road, but there may be more laughs to be found through the bantering of Hardy and Pine. Even if it turns out to be no funnier than Knight & Day the film’s action actually looks to include some fairly exciting and impressive stunts and scenes. Adding to the fun is a supporting cast that includes Til Schweiger, Angela Bassett, and David Koechner.
So yes, between the solid action, amusing tone, and great cast we’re cautiously looking forward to seeing this one. What about you?
This Means War opens February 17th.