For whatever reason (box office, looks, lack of imagination about women), movie studio executives tried way too many times to put Ms. Witherspoon in romances, which is like putting a mountain lion in a cage with a baby zebra. She's undoubtedly a fine actress and a brilliant comic, but shes too calculating and self-contained a presence for most cinematic romances, particularly comedies that try to squeeze laughs from female submission or humiliation. Witherspoon simply doesnt register as the yielding type. Enter director McG's romantic comedy blunder This Means War, in which Reese, Chris Pine, and Tom Hardy are victims of a love triangle in which two CIA agents who are best friends discover that they are dating the same woman. While the film wants to be all things to all people by aiming for a heady mix of manly spy action and ladylike rom-com flourishes, it ends up being more of a misguided "bromance" with Witherspoon as the MacGuffin. Guns fire. Cars zigzag. Paintballs hit crotches. Witherspoon bugs her eyes. End of movie. Despite the fact that this film is only a few years old, Reese already seems to be back on the right track. With several of her recent films already getting serious recognition, let's hope she never falls back into the black hole of lame romantic comedies ever again! Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comment section below.
Jesse Gumbarge is editor and chief blogger at JarvisCity.com - He loves old-school horror films and starting pointless debates. You can reach out at: JesseGumbarge@JarvisCity.com
