Movie Review: This Means War

Who would have been thought action/romantic comedy hybrid This Means War would have been the hardest film of 2012 so far to form an opinion on? This Means War is one of those films that is immediately erased from your memory after viewing it. There is nothing particularly good or bad about it, It's just kind of there. It's empty, mindless, average filmmaking, but I didn't really hate anything about it with the exception of Chelsea Handler in a supporting role (She has to be one of the most annoying people on the planet). It's doesn't really do either action or romantic comedy well or poorly. It's only sporadically funny and the action isn't anything special, but somehow it remains mildly entertaining throughout. Probably the only thing that stood out to be while watching this was how out of place Chris Pine and Tom Hardy were in this film (Reese Witherspoon, on other hand, is right at home in this type of movie). Pine and Hardy are two of the finest rising young actors and they are both horribly miscast in their roles. Their talents are completely wasted here simply because they aren't meant to be doing silly movies like this. It was absolutely a weird experience watching and reviewing this. I can't think of the last time I was indifferent on a film, yet can't figure out why I'm giving it it's subpar rating. There are clearly going to be and (have been already) better and worse films this year, but I don't think any film will make me feel stranger after viewing than This Means War.

2.5/5 Stars