Itchy City guide to Nottingham. Food, drink, film, music, stage, events, shopping, offers and competitions within Nottingham, Great Britain.

Think Tom Hardy, and the first things that spring to mind are action, emotion and damn good acting. (Oh, and hunky Brit-beefcake... if you're that way inclined.) Now think Chris Pine. Hollywood heart throb and charming, but equally a mighty fine actor. Now add Reese Witherspoon to the equation, resident ‘golden girl’ and rom-com veteran. Not exactly three names you‘d put together and expect to deliver one of this Spring‘s most anticipated comedies.

But deliver they did. Special agents Tuck (Hardy) and FDR (Pine) are best friends, and a little unconventional in their methods when it comes to catching the bad guys. After years in the CIA working side by side, they seem an unbreakable duo. Enter Lauren (Witherspoon). It’s quite the awkward moment when Tuck and FDR discover they’re in love with the same girl.

Now you might think that having two beautiful, athletic and deadly men chasing after you is a turn on, but Lauren’s situation is far from ideal. Especially given the fact that these two CIA operatives are willing to go to any length to sabotage one another. Tranquilisers, surveillance and a downright messy brawl are three things a girl definitely doesn’t want to deal with on a first date. Predictable? Yes. Entertaining? Very. That said, a little less action and a little more conversation could have gone a long way in this film. Both Pine and Hardy are able to show off their comedic abilities in this movie, and Itchy thinks Chris Pine’s facial expressions deserve their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

A far cry from ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Warrior’, This Means War is by no means a bad film. There’s a wonderful little scene in which Lauren discusses FDR‘s small, gentle hands, and the fact that Tuck is British. Both of these are supposed to be cons to help her decide who to choose, but to be honest, who doesn’t love a beefy Brit? As if these two lovely looking men aren’t enough, there’s plenty of explosions and a car chase thrown in for good measure to keep you entertained - making this a pretty damn good date movie. Men can rave about the action, women can drool at the hunks. Perfect. Itchy reckons we could have done with some more shirtless Hardy and Pine moments though... A girl can dream.

Eleri Davies

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film | release | review | cinema | romantic | rom-com | adventure | action |