In 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). The duo once helped bring down entire enemy nations, but now they are pairing their fighting skills and high-tech technology against their most dangerous nemesis ever – each other.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Foster, better known as FDR (Pine), is handsome, suave, self-assured, and able to attract beautiful women. His best friend and partner James, better known as Tuck (Hardy), has rugged good looks, dangerous, but not as skilled when it comes to romancing women. But together they are the best CIA agents around. However, their long-standing friendship is put to the test when they both want to date the same woman.

Enter Lauren Scoot (Witherspoon). Her demanding job makes it difficult for her to meet men, but then her best friend Trish (Chelsea Handler) signs Lauren up for an online dating website… the same one Tuck reluctantly just joined.

Tuck and Lauren have a perfectly romantic first date full of sparks, butterflies in your stomach, and promise of a second one. After they say goodbye, Lauren goes into a video store where FDR is looking for another romantic conquest. And wouldn’t you know it… she agrees to go on a date with him too.

Lauren thinks she’s the luckiest girl in the world. A few days ago she was sad and alone and now she is dating two gorgeous men. Meanwhile, the two guys quickly realize they’re both attracted to the same woman and their competitive instincts kick in.

They make a few ground rules, and may the best man win Lauren’s heart. And when it comes to these two friends… this means war.

Producer and screenwriter Simon Kinberg explains, “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.”

“It’s every woman’s fantasy to have two unbelievably hot, sexy guys battling over you,” says Witherspoon. “Lauren doesn’t know that Tuck and FDR are secret agents for the CIA. This Means War is almost like two different movies. My character’s in a comedy and Chris’ and Tom’s are in a big action film.”

For the character of FDR, the filmmakers were looking for what director 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.” Pine describes FDR as “a consumer of all things – of fine whiskey, good cigars, nice suits, fast cars, and beautiful ladies. Not necessarily in that order. He enjoys being a spy. He’s the guy who would have watched James Bond movies as a kid and said, ‘I want to do that.’ There’s not a lot of brooding or complication in FDR’s life.”

The filmmakers’ long search to cast the role of Tuck ended when they saw Hardy’s performance in the box office hit Inception. “Tom had everything we wanted,” recalls Kinberg. “His sense of humor had a much different tone than Chris’. Tom has an aura of danger, which we really wanted for Tuck. He was very physical, conveyed the character’s complexities, and was perfect for the role.”

Hardy was drawn to the film because it was his first comedic role yet. But there was something, or someone else that was a deciding factor… the opportunity to work with Reese Witherspoon. He explains, “Working with Reese was like a master class in the comedy genre for me.”

Alongside Pine, Hardy, and Witherspoon are Til Schweiger and Chelsea Handler. Schweiger portrays Heinrich, a menacing international arms dealer who seeks revenge against FDR and Tuck for causing his brother’s death. And Handler plays Trish, a wife and mother whose mission in life is to offer frank and explicit opinions on her single friend’s love life. “Trish is basically me, but married,” says the famously single Handler.

It wouldn’t be an intense spy movie without a few crazy stunts. Pine and Hardy were pros at the stunts and action, but Witherspoon holds her own in these scenes as well. Not only does she get to drive at excessive speeds on a military racetrack in a drophead coupe, she flew on a swinging trapeze, and donned a mask and firearm for an intense, ruthless game of paintball. “By the end of the movie, Reese is at the center of the action,” says McG.

Will Lauren pick Tuck or FDR? And what will happen if she finds out the two are actually friends competing for her? Find out February 17th, Valentine’s Day weekend, when This Means War hits theaters. Because, according to McG, “Everyone needs a little action on Valentine’s Day!” [PG-13]

[youtube FsAqVvlR5DQ 700 424]