As Valentine's Day nears, This Means WAR

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Life�s Too Short

EDS: With art of This Means War, Ghost Rider, Life's Too Short, Islands

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The Simpsons

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Islands (CNS MONTREAL GAZETTE)

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This Means War (POSTMEDIA)

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows," but these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what's on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

BIG RELEASE: This Means War (Feb. 14 special screening; official release Feb. 17)

BIG PICTURE: Just in time for Valentine's Day, a love triangle that is truly explosive. Two hunky CIA agents, played by Chris Pine and Tom Hardy, find out they are dating the same girl (Reese Witherspoon) and embark on an all-out battle -- literally -- for her affections. It's just like the Spy vs. Spy comic, only the fight is all for love. "They are the CIA's best," but they have oodles of time to destroy public property in hand-to-hand combat, and fire at each other with everything from sarcastic barbs, to poison darts and bullets. Who knew Reese's pieces were worth dying for?

FORECAST: They say love hurts, but they never said anything about stray gunfire. Romance, comedy, sex and action? Something for everyone! This one seems crafted to be a crowd-pleasing Valentine's date movie. (If only Jason Bourne had got it on the action; we could of had ourselves a foursome)

HONOURABLE MENTION: Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance (Feb. 17). Nicolas Cage once again assumes the titular role as a daring, off-kilter stuntman by day, and possessed, half-crazed, demonic spirit at night. Don't you love it when art imitates life?

TV

BIG PREMIERE: Life's Too Short (Feb. 19, HBO Canada, 9:30 p.m.)

BIG PICTURE: A self-proclaimed cross between Extras and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant turn their writing/directing talents to pint-sized comedy in this new faux-documentary series. The real star? Warwick Davis (Willow, Harry Potter) plays a fictionalized, egotistical version of himself, hell-bent on reclaiming his glory status as Britain's "go-to dwarf" actor. On the side, Davis runs a talent agency called Dwarves for Hire. Gervais and Merchant, also playing exaggerated versions of themselves, help Davis out with advice and their celebrity connections.

FORECAST: Davis may be small, but the laughs in this one are big. Plus, it's hard not to love a man who played an Ewok. Guest cameos in Season 1 include Johnny Depp, Steve Carell, Liam Neeson and Sting. But even without the helping hands, a Gervais' production is pure comedy gold.

HONOURABLE MENTION: The Simpsons (Feb. 19, FOX/Global, 7 p.m.). Everyone's favourite, yellow-skinned family celebrate their 500th episode tonight. WikiLeaks' Julian Assange guest stars as the Simpsons' new, reclusive neighbour after Homer and company are forced to leave Springfield to live off the grid. D'oh!!!

MUSIC

BIG RELEASE ON TUESDAY: Islands (A Sleep & A Forgetting)

BIG PICTURE: This Montreal indie band has seen its share of rotating members over the years, but every album has packed a quirky musical punch. Frontman Nicholas Thorburn (who also heads The Unicorns, among other projects) is one of the most creative voices in Canada, and the band's fourth album is easily their most accessible. Emotional loss, haunted dreams and "forgetting" the pains of the past have never sounded so sweet.

FORECAST: These Islands are worth the musical visit.

HONOURABLE MENTION: Shearwater (Animal Joy). The anti-Nickelback, this talented Texan group is back with more cerebral, philosophical, majestic rock. It's music for the mind -- not the mindless.

-- Postmedia News

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 12, 2012 ??65525