Chances are I’m going to be in the minority on this one, but I loved this movie! This Means War is the perfect combination of a traditional Romantic Comedy that hits all of those necessary emotional beats to satisfy even the most hard core Rom-Com fan while at the same time throwing in enough action, gun play and espionage to keep the non-fans completely entertained.

To draw on the stereotypes the easiest way to describe the experience of watching this film is that your girlfriend will love it for the romance and you will be able to stomach it because of all of the awesome action sequences and humor. Unless of course you are a girl in which case, please reverse that. And for the gays on top of all of the above there’s more than enough eye candy to fill the 2 hour running time. (Although not nearly enough shirtless time to be honest)

The movie begins like a slick new spy thriller with the perfectly cast gorgeous leads Chris Pine, of Star Trek fame and Tom Hardy also of Star Trek fame, but to a far lesser degree. The pair are on a covert mission for the CIA that quickly becomes an all-out gun battle on top of a building in Hong Kong. When they return to the states they both end up randomly meeting the same beautiful woman played by the never more enjoyable Reece Witherspoon and end up in an full on war for her affections.

Pine’s character FDR is all about sweeping women off their feet and into his bed. But the next morning hasn’t even arrived by the time he is charmingly ushering them out the door. Hardy’s Tuck is the exact opposite. He’s recently separated from his wife and son and is a hopeless romantic.

When somehow dateless Lauren’s best friend, wonderfully played by the ‘borderline amazing’ Chelsea Handler, can’t stand to hear one more story about another night spent at home alone playing Boggle she takes matters into her own hands and creates a dating profile for Lauren which is how she meets Tuck. And then a random encounter in a video store introduces her to FDR.

Having been best friends for years the men make a gentlemen’s agreement to allow her to decide who she prefers without her knowing about their friendship.

The boys pull out all the spy stops as they covertly monitor the others dates and use CIA team members to learn everything they can about her. This leads to some pretty funny moments and some great character development for the guys. You really get the sense that these guys are more than just friends, they are family.

There’s nothing earth shatteringly different about This Means War but it kept me fully and completely entertained from start to finish; which doesn’t happen quite as often as it used

to I’ll admit. By the end I was even thinking that I could see a sequel to the film being made that focused more on the action than the romance. These guys make a great team and I’d love to see them share the screen again.

I also have to mention their houses real quick. I don’t’ know where these places are in LA, but man I want to move there. Some of the most interesting and amazing interiors I’ve ever seen. For example, FDR’s hallway ceiling is a lap pool. So when he looks up invariably he ends up starring at a hot chick in a bikini swimming. Tell me that’s not every straight man’s dream come true.

The special features on this Blu-ray Disc include 3 Alternate endings, none of which are better than the actual ending that they ultimately went with, but it is fun to see a couple of the possibilities the filmmakers entertained, there’s also an alternate beginning sequence in Pre-Viz stage which I could have done without, the coveted Gag Reel which is funny but not hysterical, some deleted scenes and a featurette entitled Bachelorette Party which was fun and could have easily been included in the movie while the credits were rolling.

So even though I know I’m going to be in the minority opinion column on this one, but I still say This Means War is one hundred percent worth the rental or maybe even the purchase. It’s a movie with a great cast, beautiful locations, romance and action all rolled into one. There is undoubtedly something here for everyone. What more could we ask for?