“This Means War” may not be Reese Witherspoon’s finest hour — it’s a

“This Means War” may not be Reese Witherspoon’s finest hour — it’s a glossy, noisy, love-triangle-slash-spy-romp — but it’s fun, and it allows her once again to demonstrate her radiant likability. It also allows us the opportunity to look back at her career and ponder five of her best film performances:

v “Election” (1999): She plays an essentially unlikable character: a prim, scheming know-it-all who will do whatever it takes to be voted president of her high school’s student government. But Witherspoon finds the loneliness and vulnerability in Tracy and makes us ultimately sympathize with her.

v “Walk the Line” (2005): In theory, this is Joaquin Phoenix’s movie, because he’s the one playing Johnny Cash. Then along comes Witherspoon as Cash’s lifelong love, June Carter, and she pretty much steals the movie right out from underneath him.

v “Legally Blonde” (2001): Witherspoon is convincing as the ebullient Elle Woods, a pampered campus princess who finds her true voice in the unlikeliest of places: Harvard Law School.

v “Freeway” (1996): Witherspoon did some of her most challenging work in her youth, and this darkly funny, twisted take on the “Little Red Riding Hood” fairy tale is a prime example.

v “Pleasantville” (1998): In a large and esteemed ensemble cast that features Tobey Maguire, William H. Macy and Joan Allen, Witherspoon just shines. She uses her comic timing to great effect here as a sassy and subversive teenager who gets unwittingly sucked into the television set with her twin brother (Maguire) and finds herself in the idyllic, fictional 1950s town of Pleasantville.

“Glee” (8 p.m., Fox): “Glee” fans had better savor tonight’s episode because the show is about to go on a winter break of nearly two months. But first, a big showdown with the Dalton Academy Warblers at Regionals.

TV Listings, B6

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Competition seeks blues bands, singers

ALLIANCE

The North East Ohio Blues Association (NEOBA) will host a blues challenge April 28 at Don Pancho’s, 2105 W. State St.

Blues bands and solo/duo blues acts will compete for cash prizes and NEOBA sponsorship at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tenn., in early 2013. The IBC is the largest gathering and showcase of blues talent in the world.

The winning band will receive $500 in cash and NEOBA sponsorship; and a solo/duo blues act will receive $200 in cash and NEOBA sponsorship.

All serious blues musicians are invited to apply. Winning this challenge will provide artists valuable exposure to record labels, blues-industry professionals and festival promoters capable of providing career advancement.

NEOBA became an affiliate of The Blues Foundation in 2010.

Complete information, format, application and local rules are available by contacting NEOBA at neoba-blue@yahoo.com.

Deadline for application submission is March 30.