REEL DEAL: This Means War - Chelsea Handler SPOTLIGHT

CHELSEA HANDLER: REESE’S BFF IN THE MIDST OF WAR

Currently invading the international mainstream audience and slowly carving her way as a household name is Chelsea Handler who plays the no-holds barred best friend of Reese Witherspoon in “This Means War.”

So far this year’s most enjoyable and hilarious romantic-action comedy to beat, “This Means War” is about two best friends, the best CIA agents use their incredible skills against each other in order to win a woman’s love.   Playing the trio trapped in the riotous fray of friendship and love are Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy. 

Injecting an outsider’s view of the trio’s fray is Chelsea Handler whose character Trish is Lauren’s (Witherspoon) best friend.   The inimitable talk show host, comedienne actor and author Handler intimates on her role as herself except that she’s single in real life.  “Trish is basically me, but married,” says Handler.  “Trish is not the best advisor, but Lauren needs her to provide a jolt of energy. Trish is a wife and mother whose mission in life is to offer frank and explicit opinions on her single friend’s love life.”

REEL DEAL: This Means War - Chris Pine SPOTLIGHT

CHRIS PINE ON BEING A SPY AND BEING STUCK IN A LOVE TRIANGLE

 IN “THIS MEANS WAR”

After a career that began with romantic comedies like “Princess Diaries 2” and “Just My Luck,” roles in Tony Scott’s “Unstoppable” and JJ Abrams’ re-boot of “Star Trek” as Captain Kirk have seen Chris Pine move into more action roles. With McG’s “This Means War,” he gets to combine both comedy and action as FDR, a CIA operative using all of his agency’s resources to fight a fellow agent, Tuck (Tom Hardy), over the love of a woman (Reese Witherspoon).

“This Means War” is about two of the world’s top spies who’ve been partners and best friends for many years. Through a series of circumstances even they couldn’t anticipate, they fall in love with the same woman,” says producer-screenwriter Simon Kinberg.  “FDR and Tuck decide they’re both going to date Lauren and see which one she chooses.  As each begins to fall for Lauren, they get increasingly competitive and employ their spy tactics and techniques to sabotage each other.  Lauren, who just wanted to find the right guy, has no idea that FDR and Tuck are waging war for her love.” 

For the character of FDR, the filmmakers were looking for what McG calls a “rogue – somebody who was lovable, even while possessing supreme self-confidence. And when it comes to that kind of energy, someone who embodies that magical mix, Chris Pine is the heavyweight champ.”

“I play a guy named FDR, a spy who, with every ounce of his being, enjoys being a spy.  He is living the Connery-Bond version of a spy’s life until he meets Lauren Scott and his world is turned upside down. Everything he thought was important—namely guns, women, fast cars and good times with no strings attached—are maybe not so important after all. What becomes important to him is winning the love of this woman,” Pine shares of his character.       

REEL DEAL: This Means War - Writer Marcus Gautesen SPOTLIGHT

“THIS MEANS WAR” BASED ON PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF WRITER MARCUS GAUTESEN

At the heels of the most unforgettable and most action-packed films “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “X-Men: First Class” and “X-Men: The Last Stand” comes “This Means War” - the latest romantic-action comedy making hilarious waves screening after screening starring Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine. 

Recent (and all) screenings of “This Means War” yielded outstanding scores, which revealed that it plays to men, women, singles, and couples.

Collaborated by filmdom’s most creative talents, director McG, scribes Simon Kinberg and Timothy Dowling and producers Will Smith, Robert Simonds and James Lassiter – “This Means War” is an original story by Marcus Gautesen based on his personal experience.  While attending Putney School in Vermont, Marcus was living with his best friend in a two-bedroom apartment in New York City’s Little Italy.  Both unemployed, they decided to move into one bedroom and rent out the other.  A beautiful French woman took the second room, and the guy’s friendship quickly went south as they repeatedly submarined each other’s attempts to win her over – it was war.

REEL DEAL: This Means War REVIEW

I do love spy movies because it brings out my love for gadgets, conspiracy and beautiful women. I also like comedies because they do have the best dialogue and slapstick fun. I also like romance because I sometimes do want to get cheesy especially when inside the movie house. Blend them perfectly together and its total entertainment from start to finish. 

This Means War brings together Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine in this romantic-action-comedy film that is also great this Valentine's season. Tuck (Hardy) and FDR (Pine) works as Federal Agents and also best friends. But when they met Lauren (Witherspoon), they became rivals to impress her using their 'resources' and 'skills'. Who will emerge the better man? And who will be her man? Its indeed Spy against spy in a whole new light.

Quick Blogs: Climbed 20 Floors of Stairs!

Yes, you heard it right, 20 floors and this happened at the Bro. Anrew Gonzales Building in De La Salle Manila because I was running late for the presscon of A Fire in the Heart produced by DLSU this February 26 and 27. I took the stairs because there was a long line at the elevators. I did notice a elevator for faculty but I thought it was strictly for faculty and employees of DSLU. And since I calculated that it will take me longer to wait to get in I decided to go up the stairs... 

And the venue is at the 20th floor. I though I would get very exhausted at the first half but was able to reach the 15th floor and slowed my pace until I reached the 20th floor. Indeed it was an achievement for me, weird yet fun. and to commemorate this record. I pictured the stairway thall the way down and also the 20th floor mark. But though tiring, I was rewarded by winning in the raffle a limited edition DLSU 100th year Swatch Watch (plus meeting the legendary Peque Gallaga!). It truly made my day. Now off to see the movie This Means War! 

Will post the review next!

REEL DEAL: This Means War - Tom Hardy SPOTLIGHT

“INCEPTION” BREAKTHROUGH ACTOR TOM HARDY NOW IN ROMANTIC COMEDY “THIS MEANS WAR”

Chris Pine and Tom Hardy portray the world’s deadliest CIA operatives who are also inseparable partners and best friends… until they fall for the same woman (Reese Witherspoon) in This Means War.  Having once helped bring down entire enemy nations, they are now employing their incomparable skills and an endless array of high-tech gadgetry against their greatest nemesis ever – each other. 

REEL DEAL: This Mean War/Chronicle SPOTLIGHT

10-MINUTES OF WAR IN “CHRONICLE”

The highly intense edgy teen thriller “Chronicle” tags 10-minutes of “This Means War” footage when it opens in theaters nationwide on February 2 (Thursday).

“This Means War” stars Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy in a love war triangle when CIA agents and childhood best buddies find out they are dating the same woman.  Hilarity and hard-core action ensue as the trio try to work on the situation the best way possible brought by Hollywood’s ensemble of hit filmmakers.  “This Means War” is helmed by director McG whose worldwide hits include “Charlie’s Angels,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” and “Terminator Salvation,” written by scribe Simon Kinberg who penned the incredibly thrilling films “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “”X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Jumper” and “Sherlock Holmes,” and produced by Will Smith to create  2012’s most enjoyable adult romantic-action-comedy.

            

Consecutively opening this February  - “Chronicle” (February 2) and “This Means War” (February 22) are from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. in theaters nationwide.­

REEL DEAL: This Means War SPOTLIGHT

SPY AGAINST SPY IN “THIS MEANS WAR”

A certified ensemble of hit filmmakers takes the romantic-action genre a notch higher in “This Means War” starring Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy where best friends CIA agents and best friends discover that they are dating the same woman which ultimately affects both their professional and personal lives.

Filmmakers director McG whose worldwide hits include “Charlie’s Angels,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” and “Terminator Salvation,” screen scribe Simon Kinberg who penned the incredibly thrilling films “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “”X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Jumper” and “Sherlock Holmes,” and Will Smith as the film’s producer lock forces to create another unprecedented romantic-action-comedy movie in “This Means War.” 

In “This Means War,” Reese Witherspoon plays Lauren, a very decisive woman, but in her romantic life she's just a disaster. The man she moved from Atlanta with ended up leaving her, shattering her heart and crushing her spirits. Having been unable to date, her best friend Trish (Chelsea Handler) finally decides to help her to enter the dating world again.