Honestly, if you were around in 2012, you couldn't escape the trailers for This Means War. It was everywhere. You had the blue-eyed wonder Chris Pine, fresh off his Star Trek glow-up, going toe-to-toe with a pre-Bane Tom Hardy. And Reese Witherspoon was right in the middle. It’s a movie that, on paper, sounds like a fever dream cooked up by a studio executive who had too much espresso. Two CIA agents using high-level government surveillance to stalk a girl they’re both dating? It’s kind of a wild premise when you actually think about it.
Critics absolutely loathed it. Roger Ebert basically called it stupid. But here we are, years later, and people are still watching it on streaming. Why? Because the chemistry between the leads is actually pretty great.
What Really Happened With Chris Pine in This Means War
Chris Pine plays FDR Foster. He’s the classic "bad boy" spy—the guy who lives in a penthouse with a glass-bottomed pool (which, let’s be real, is the most "movie spy" thing ever) and thinks he’s God’s gift to women. He’s the foil to Tom Hardy’s Tuck, who is the sensitive, divorced dad.
The plot is simple. They’re best friends. They’re partners. They mess up a mission in Hong Kong and get grounded. While on desk duty, they both happen to start dating Lauren (Reese Witherspoon). When they realize they’re seeing the same woman, they don't do the adult thing and talk about it. No. They sign a "gentleman’s agreement" and then proceed to use Predator drones, wiretaps, and flashbangs to ruin each other's dates.
It’s ridiculous. It’s over-the-top.
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But Pine leans into it so well. He has this specific brand of "smug but somehow still likable" that few actors can pull off. This was right in the pocket of his "Pretty Boy" era, but you can see the comedic timing that eventually led him to roles like Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
The Bromance Was Better Than the Romance
If you talk to anyone who actually likes this movie, they’ll tell you the same thing. The scenes between Pine and Hardy are the highlight. They’re basically a married couple that works for the CIA.
Director McG—the guy behind Charlie’s Angels—actually shot three different endings for the film. In the theatrical version, Lauren chooses FDR (Pine). There’s an alternate ending where she chooses Tuck (Hardy). But there’s a legendary third ending that never saw the light of day where Pine and Hardy’s characters realize they’re the ones who truly love each other and Lauren ends up alone.
Hardy actually joked in interviews that they should have gone for the "groundbreaking" ending where the two boys end up together. Honestly? It might have made for a better movie.
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The Controversy You Probably Forgot
While the movie was a box office success—grossing about $156 million on a $65 million budget—it wasn't all sunshine behind the scenes. Or, at least, it wasn't for everyone.
Tom Hardy has been pretty vocal about his experience. In a 2014 interview, he basically admitted he hated the process of making a rom-com. He felt "other" on set and said he didn't understand how you could have so much fun on screen while being miserable making it. He even swore off the genre for a long time.
Pine, on the other hand, seemed to handle the "frothy" nature of the project a bit better. For him, it was another brick in the wall of becoming a massive A-lister. But it also led to some drama off-camera. Right around the time This Means War was hitting theaters, Pine was actually sued by his former talent agency. They claimed he owed them commissions on the film and accused him of firing them via email after they helped build his career. It was a messy, very Hollywood legal battle that reminded everyone that even for guys who look like Chris Pine, the business side of things can be a headache.
Why It Still Works (Sorta)
Look, nobody is claiming this is Citizen Kane. It’s a popcorn flick. But there are a few reasons it’s managed to survive the "forgotten movie" bin:
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- The Cast: You have two of the biggest actors in the world before they were the biggest actors. Seeing them play for the "funny" team is rare.
- The Nonsense: The fact that the CIA just lets them use millions of dollars in equipment to check if a girl likes paintball is so absurd it becomes funny.
- Chelsea Handler: She plays Lauren’s best friend and provides the kind of R-rated advice that keeps the movie from feeling too much like a Hallmark special.
It’s also surprisingly short. At 97 minutes, it doesn't overstay its welcome. It gets in, shows you some cool gadgets, lets Pine and Hardy slap each other around a bit, and gets out.
Actionable Takeaway: How to Revisit the Film
If you're looking to re-watch This Means War or see it for the first time, don't go in expecting a high-stakes spy thriller like Bourne. Go in for the "Alpha" competition.
- Watch for the L.A. Reshoots: If you look closely at Tom Hardy in certain scenes, he’s noticeably bulkier. That’s because he was starting to train for his role as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises during the pickup shots.
- The Stunts: Pine actually did a fair amount of his own stunt driving in that Audi. He’s a better driver than you’d think.
- Check the Streaming Platforms: As of 2026, the film frequently pops up on Max and Disney+ (internationally). It’s the ultimate "I don't want to think, I just want to see pretty people be silly" movie.
If you're a fan of Pine’s newer, more experimental work like Poolman, it’s fascinating to go back and see him in this glossy, big-budget studio machine. It’s a reminder of where he started and how much he’s evolved from the guy in the glass-bottomed pool.
If you want to dive deeper into Chris Pine’s filmography, you should check out his work in Hell or High Water next. It’s the total opposite of this movie—gritty, slow, and serious—and shows exactly why he’s considered one of the best of his generation.