Writer: Naseem Randhawa

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Watch this if you liked: “Mr. And Mrs. Smith”, “Knight And Day” & “Killers”

What happens when two best friends fall for the same girl? What happens when both of them live stealthy lives as CIA Operatives, dodging bullets, beating up bad guys and taking up highly confidential espionage assignments as their daily work routine?

Aimed as a romantic comedy to fit the chick flick needs of the ladies and fuel action pumped adrenaline for the guys, "This Means War" is fun movie that both of the sexes can enjoy on an equal scale. However those looking for a timeless witty yet fun flick to watch, don't expect this to do the trick as its cliches and predictable storyline won't remain as one to remember.

Reese Witherspoon plays Lauren, a sweet middle aged woman whose dull job as a consumer product tester is matched with the lack of finesse in her love life, that is until she meets Tom Hardy (Tuck) and Chris Pine (FDR) who as the best of friends, accidently fall for the same girl (how coincidental!), and fight each other using their CIA training to vie for her attention in a ridiculous game of 'may-the-best-man-win'.

Depicting a poor plot that could've been turn into ultimate hilarity if director McG ("Charlie's Angels") had the inkling to portray the cliches in a more comedic-parody way ala-"Spy Hard", then the movie would've definitely embodied the recipe of romantic-comedy success.

The banter and rivalry between Pine and Hardy are the best parts of the movie, and audiences will definitely be eager to look forward for more of their screen time together compared with any of them both paired with Witherspoon. One would wonder why Oscar winner Witherspoon accepted a role in such a mediocre movie almost as if she is moving backwards instead of forward in her career. Even worse than everything bad in this movie is Chelsea Handler, Lauren's foul mouthed and overly-sexual best friend which at times is just plain annoying.

Not a must see of 2012 however do watch it not for the romantic elements, but for the 'bromance' between Hardy and Pine as the rest will leave you hardly pining for more.

Cinema Online, 20 February 2012