Thursday, 13 October 2011
Over the summer when we tried to figure out how to restore some luster to Reese Witherspoon's career, we mentioned that we were really intrigued by "This Means War," a Fox comedy about two CIA operatives (Chris Pine and Tom Hardy) who are best friends until they realize they're dating the same woman (Witherspoon). Could be fun, right? Yeah, well, now we've seen the trailer. We are no longer so hopeful.
Trailer category: Effects-laden action-comedy.
Major selling points: Pine and Hardy are hunky. Witherspoon is briefly seen in her underwear.
What successful movies are they trying to remind us of?"Mr. & Mrs. Smith." "Spy Game." "Enemy of the State." "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."
"Hey, (s)he's in this?" Chelsea Handler. (Sorry -- although maybe the movie dislikes her as much as we do since the trailer's best joke is at her expense.)
Line of dialogue that's really what the whole movie is about: "May the best man win."
Spoilage? Medium. Pine is dating Witherspoon, but so is Hardy. What are they going to do? Duh, they're both going to continue dating her but not mention that they know about each other, instead using all their fancy spy stuff to sabotage the other guy's chances. We would not be shocked if there's some sort of twist -- like maybe she's a spy, too -- but the trailer doesn't say a thing about that.
Enticement Percentage Increase: 2 percent. We like all three stars a ton, and yet this trailer does almost nothing for us. (OK, fine, some of the action stuff looks kinda cool.) Maybe it's because director McG has never been known for his deft comedic touch. (There's a shot-to-the-crotch joke in this, people.) But it's mostly that the trailer sets up one of our least favorite scenarios: "Hey, watch people be jerks to each other to win a girl who's completely oblivious to what they're doing!" Man, is that funny. Also, Chelsea Handler.
'This Means War' Trailer: Did McG Just Abuse Tom Hardy's Appeal? [/film]
Thursday, 13 October 2011 0
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood has signed up its first female director for a major superhero movie.
Marvel Studios announced Thursday that Patty Jenkins will direct "Thor 2," the sequel to last summer's hit that is due in theaters Nov. 15, 2013.
Jenkins is best-known for writing and directing 2003's "Monster," which earned Charlize Theron the best-actress Academy Award. Her credits also include episodes of "Entourage" and "Arrested Development."
Chris Hemsworth will reprise his title role in "Thor 2" as the Norse god of thunder, with co-stars Natalie Portman and Tom Hiddleston also returning.
The first "Thor," directed by Kenneth Branagh, took in $448 million worldwide.
Another female filmmaker, Lexi Alexander, made the lower-budgeted Marvel movie "The Punisher: War Zone" in 2008. But Jenkins is the first woman to direct a blockbuster superhero franchise.
