"This Means War" makes for fun date night

First, not every movie has to be great to be enjoyable. "This Means War" is a bit of a sloppy movie. The action editing is choppy and the story line is unbelievable — then again, what Hollywood movie is? But it was a fun escape for about an hour and 40 minutes. Check trailer:


The story is of two kick-butt CIA agents who are best friends, FDR and Tuck. FDR (Chris Pine) is a playboy; Tuck (Tom Hardy) is a divorced/separated dad trying to keep connected in his young son's life. Happens after a undercover operation that plays out like many spy movies before it with the baddest guy getting away, Tuck finds he's missing a love connection. So he decides to find the perfect girl, Lauren (Reese Witherspoon), on an online dating site. Buddy FDR has his reservations about this date, and ends up at the nearby video store in case he needs to save his friend. Turns out Tuck and Lauren have a great first meeting, but Lauren ends up at the video store and meets a quite (stereotypically) annoying-but-cute guy, FDR. Alas, she finds herself dating two guys, but she doesn't know they are best buds. They, however, learn they like the same girl, and throw everything into winning her affection. It's a competition with rules and craziness. Totally unrealistic and predictable, but the ride was fun. Witherspoon is totally adorable as a woman who is decisive in her job, but not in her relationships. Pine has great blue eyes and charming, and Tom Hardy...well, I found him an odd choice, but I loved him in "Warrior." And I guess he did OK here, too. Add in some funny one-liners by Chelsea Handler, who plays Laurens totally inappropriate mom friend Trish, and it ends up being a decent date night movie. Side note: Loved that Chris Pine mentioned watching a "CHiPs" marathon. His dad, Robert Pine, played the sergeant to Ponch and Jon on that popular late 70s/early 80s show.

I don't plan on buying "This Means War," but I won't mind watching again when it plays on cable.
My grade: C+.

It's rated PG-13 for some sexual content including references, some violence and action, and for language. If by chance you take your kids, there are some fights scenes with lots of guns and explosions (they are CIA agents). One man falls to his death, two women are kidnapped, some sexy kissing (no nudity) takes place, drinking, and sex talk.

Cheers to date night.

Pre-Valentine's Day date night movie screening: THIS MEANS WAR

Mom friends, I will be hosting a screening of THIS MEANS WAR, starring Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 at Tempe Marketplace. In the film, Pine and Hardy portray CIA operatives and best friends. That is, until they fall for the same woman (Witherspoon). Once a team that helped bring down enemy nations, they are now employing their skills and high-tech gadgetry against each other - all for love?

Yes, screening is the day before Valentine's Day. Think of this as a bonus date, and it's free. Best of all, for him, there's gonna be plenty of action.

Pull down passes by clicking here.

Make sure to follow the rules on the passes. These things tend to overbook, so do arrive early for best available seats.

The trailer looks pretty cool (yes, I like action flicks):


I'll post my review later on this blog. Chat with me about it on Twitter @timestarvedmom. The official Twitter for the movie is @thismeanswarmov. Please use the hashtag #thismeanswar if you post about it.

"New Year's Eve" offers predictable sentimentality

Walking into a screening of "New Year's Eve," I knew that I wouldn't be watching a masterpiece. I was just hoping this Garry Marshall mega-ensemble film wouldn't feel like a mediocre and predictable made-for-TV movie, as did his first holiday ensemble "Valentine's Day." New Year's Eve is a hopeful holiday — putting the past in the past, celebrating the prospects of the future, making good changes in your life — right?

Well, "New Year's Eve" isn't anything special and it is predictable, but I did like it more than the first. Maybe it's the sappy sentimentality of the holiday season that made me like it more. Besides, I got to play spot the celebrity with my daughter. And at least three of them (Ashton Kutcher, Hector Elizondo and Jessica Biel) were in "Valentine's Day," too. I can see this as a movie with girlfriends or a date-night movie, but he'll probably tease you about it later.

The film suffers from way too many stories, which leaves you no time to really care for anyone. It starts with Michelle Pfeiffer's mousy secretary who quits her job and hires a 20-something courier (Zac Efron) to help her fulfill her crazy resolutions list. Hilary Swank is an executive in charge of the New Year's Eve ball drop, and as expected, it gets stuck. She makes a sappy speech that every other character seems to hear, and it resonates with them. She also needs to make sure rock star Jensen (Jon Bon Jovi) makes it to his Times Square performance on time. But he's moping for his ex-girlfriend (Katherine Heigl), who's catering a record company's party and still angry with him about their relationship. Ashton Kutcher is a grump who gets stuck in an elevator with Jensen's back-up singer (Glee's Lea Michelle). Yes, they find love (it's not a spoiler, it's expected). Meanwhile, Sarah Jessica Parker plays a divorced mom who is known for her clogs and has made no time for love. She's spending the evening with her daughter (Abigail Breslin), who would rather spend the night with friends in Times Square so she can get kissed by the boy (Wizards of Waverly Place's Jake T. Austin) she likes. So, at her first opportunity, she takes off, leaving mom to look for her. There's the record company heir/playboy (Josh Duhamel) who longs to reconnect with a woman he met last New Year's Eve. There's also a man (Robert DeNiro), who is in a hospital hoping to see the ball drop before he dies, as he's refusing anymore treatment. Oh, and a couple (Seth Myers and Jessica Biel) who are trying to win $25,000 for delivering the first baby of the new year. Of course there are many interconnected relationships. Exhausting!

Among the cameos: Sofia Vergara (sous chef), John Lithgow (record company exec), Cary Elwes (doctor), Halle Berry (nurse), Alyssa Milano (nurse), Jim Belushi (building super), Hector Elizondo (star electrician), rapper Common (soldier), Sarah Paulson (other pregnant lady), Ludacris (NYC police officer) and Carla Gugino (spiritual obstetrician).

It was funny at times. Modern Family's Vergara delivers some great lines as a fan hot for Jensen, and the baby bit with Meyers and Biel is silly fun. Most jokes are forgettable, though. I felt touched by the story just twice. One was totally predictable (dying man) and the other a nice surprise (soldier), but only because it comes out of no where. Overall, it's just OK entertainment. C-.

The movie is rated PG-13. My almost 12 year-old daughter wanted to see it, and I didn't have a problem. I figured there wouldn't be anything too crazy. I had seen Valentine's Day and found nothing that hasn't been on a sitcom. There is an F-word and some sexual references, but nothing explicit. BTW, she gives the movie four stars, or a B.

Cheers!