This Means War

Practically nothing about this movie works. I like the three lead actors, but they are drowning in uninteresting dialogues, sloppy screenplay and the overall cheap feel of the movie. Maybe it was supposed to be an action comedy, but there is very little comedy and it’s entirely lacking in action scenes. Most importantly, the character of the villain is completely irrelevant for the story. It's a shame, this could have been a fun easy watch. What you get instead is just a crashing bore. (08/24/2013)

Two friends who are actually super secret agents are absolutely perfect in action. Like two brothers who understand each other without having to say anything. What one does, the other is already prepared for. The action is one thing. But they are up against Tila Schweiger, who is certainly not easy to catch and who also proves that he simply doesn't get the roles he deserves in Hollywood. He plays a villain who doesn't excel in anything and not playing him, Schweiger doesn't excel at all. Chris Pine and Tom Hardy as a pair of agents are not bad at all, but instead of the latest film by director McG being action-packed, it is mainly a comedy, which is not that funny. It works for Pine and Hardy, but as soon as we find out that the war is happening because both start dating a woman who also has the face of Reese Witherspoon, everything interesting disappears. Those two mess around, fooling around to get that desirable woman. In the end, however, they make up, become best friends, everything turns out well, the action is boring, and they have to be saved by a woman who seems practical as a cubic wheel at first sight. McG didn't go overboard, you'll have fun, but it's cheap, without any significant idea or moments that would truly blow you away. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/07/happy-feet-2-bobr-cislo-4-musketyri.html (02/23/2013)

A hyper-stylised romantic comedy somewhat inadvertently framed as a spy-action flick and taking the rivalry of two suitors a bit more literally. As is slowly becoming the rule in post-Apatow relationship movies, the sparks fly more strikingly between friends of the same sex than between a man and a woman, which is also due to the episodic structure of the romantic plot (the impression of sitcom-like scenes is reinforced by the use of pauses between the “scenes”). Like the lead actors, the screenwriters revel in the testosterone-fuelled, technophilic “my toys are better than yours” pissing match between two guys who have a shared mother figure in the form of their strict boss. (It’s worth noting that co-screenwriter Simon Kinberg’s credits include the not dissimilar Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.) Unfortunately, they only stick with ideas that they don’t further develop, which is most regrettable in relation to the central twist given to the standard romcom formula. Contrary to the usual way of doing things, neither of the potential partners is a bit of a cretin – the screenwriting solution to this dilemma is to make the man a bit of a cretin by pushing him aside. Also, the attempt at duality in the mould of Hitchcock, who is referenced here as ostentatiously and unimaginatively as Scorsese is (a long shot in a bar), comes across as mechanical: two male friends, two female friends, scenes that are similar in content but in different settings... The action scenes are just as sloppy as the heterosexual flirting, as McG didn’t do a very good job of maintaining the continuity of the individual shots (the climax on the highway with the shooting going into a turn?). Given the film’s concept of overdoing things instead of pretending to be something (which makes it reminiscent of Knight and Day, whose bombast I found more believable), these shortcomings do not essentially hinder the straightforward entertainment. However, not even the charisma of Tom Hardy, whose Britishness I consider a major plus (unlike the presence of Witherspoon), can erase the fact that watching such products of the MTVisation of Hollywood falls into the same category of activities as breathing – after a while, you stop noticing that you’re doing anything. 50% (02/10/2012)

Nicely shot, with a typical video-clip style, overexposed and relatively entertaining. But at its core, it is a very flat film. I would expect more action, less romance, but it was exactly the opposite. Chris Pine and Tom Hardy are great likeable characters, and Reese Witherspoon is not bad either. The chemistry between them works great, so, apart from a few digital mistakes and boring scenes, I had a pretty good time, knowing that it is a predictable and essentially undemanding nonsense. (08/20/2012)

A chill-out romantic flick. The agent plot is of no importance, as the emphasis is on the chemistry between the characters and their funny encounters. The film renders these things well enough for momentary fun, but won’t stay in your memory for long. The agents portrayed by Brad and Angelina (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), whose success led to the creation of this movie, had more charm. (02/26/2012)