Last week, we looked at Christian Bale’s pre-Batman performance in “Flowers of War.” This week, we’ll see what the villainous Bane was doing before he put on the mask.

Tom Hardy, who portrayed the Caped Crusader’s enemy Bane in “The Dark Knight Rises,” is the same actor who appeared in “Star Trek: Nemesis,” “Inception” and “Warrior,” the last one having a compelling story about estranged brothers competing in the same mixed martial arts tournament.

Earlier this year, Hardy was in an action-packed romantic comedy called “This Means War,” now available on home video. Hardy plays Tuck, the best friend and partner of FDR Foster (Chris Pine, who you’ll recognize as Captain Kirk from 2009’s “Star Trek” reboot). Tuck and Foster are slick CIA agents and practically brothers.

Enter Lauren (Reese Witherspoon), a feisty product tester who serendipitously meets and agrees to go out on a date with each guy. When the men find out they’re dating the same woman … well, this means war.

The director, lovingly referred to as McG, also directed “Charlie’s Angels” and “Terminator: Salvation,” so it’s no surprise the action sequences are pretty sweet.

I must say there are bits where it’s obvious the writing was done by a couple of guys. At first, Lauren is drawn to Tuck, who is the more sensitive of her two beaus. However, once Foster brings his A-game — adopting a dog from a shelter, for instance — she begins to sway his way, though he’s obviously the player type.

I laughed a little and genuinely was taken with Hardy’s charisma, though most reviewers thought Pine shined brighter. Go figure.
All things considered, I wasn’t really a fan!

McBrayer’s column appears weekly in the Courier. If you’re a fan of Showtime with Sasha, watch reviews at www.coastalcourier.com.