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Whither Reynolds?
You have to do more than just sell tickets to be considered a serious heavy-hitting movie star. Every so often (i.e., every three or four years) you have to be in a really good film. And I mean a really good one -- not a line-drive single or ground-rule double but a serious triple or a homer. By this standard, or even in strictly monetary terms, how can 32 year-old Ryan Reynolds be considered a star of any kind?
He's a talented performer, obviously charming and good looking. He seems to be trying to do quality work in ambitious or unusual films. (Whatever happened to Fireflies in the Garden?). And most of his movies have been modestly profitable. And he seems (or it has seemed) as if he might eventually be Robert Redford. Maybe. But this doesn't seem to be happening.
Where are the super-grosses, the big critical acclaim (why doesn't he work with AAA-rated directors?), the sense of being part of some kind of special firmament in the universe? When is Reynolds going to catch a really good wave? It's okay to flip-flop around in your 20s but you don't hit it big in your early 30s people start to wonder.
You knew Redford was a star he came out in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid at age 32, and then Downhill Racer and The Candidate two and three years later. (All parts that Reynolds could have played and done relatively well with.) You knew Dustin Hoffman had hit it big-time when he made The Graduate and Midnight Cowboy and Straw Dogs. You knew Al Pacino was destined for greatness when he turned up in The Godfather ; ditto Robert DeNiro when he starred in The Godfather, Part II. Nothing like this has happened with Reynolds. Nothing even close.
The reason, I believe, is that he's basically a faux star -- an agreeable lightweight lacking serious hunger and possibly lacking the necessary gravitas -- trying to launch himself (or at least make it work in a limited way or...you know, hang on) in a degraded environment. He seems to be doing all he can to make it happen -- engage, excite, arouse -- but it's just not coalescing.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 12, 2009 at 5:57 AM
comment #1
Rich S.
says ...
I'm convinced that producers and directors hire Reynolds in the hope that ScarJo will hang around the set. They obviously can't hire her, because she's box office poison. So they do the do the next best thing and you get Reynolds. Got to be the only explanation.
Posted by Rich S.
at January 12, 2009 7:16 AM
comment #2
swordandpen
says ...
Ryan Reynolds, Chris Evans, Paul Walker, Ryan Phillipe, Hayden Christensen. All faux movie stars.
Put these guys in a line-up in a few years and see if you can still identify them or tell them apart from one another. They would be like the bland, boring version of The Usual Suspects.
This is what happens when Hollywood decides to tell you who's a movie star by inexplicably casting these blank slates in starring roles.
Posted by swordandpen
at January 12, 2009 7:30 AM
comment #3
tommysunshine
says ...
sword and pen, that's glibness in all it's knuckleheaded glory. Evans is great in The Loss of A Teardrop Diamond- too good a movie to get released- Ryan Phillipe is a seriously underrated actor, Christensen was fantastic in Shattered Glass.
What you're essentially saying is that 'all these young white guys are to blame for picking up more chicks and making more dough than me'. I think you'll find the fault in that lies closer to your own doorstep.
Posted by tommysunshine
at January 12, 2009 7:40 AM
comment #4
Piper71
says ...
Reynolds? Redford? Huh?
I just watched Definitely/Maybe only because I was stuck under a heavy filing cabinet which my wife would not lift for me.
He's okay. But he's got a long ways to go for those two names to be mentioned together.
Posted by Piper71
at January 12, 2009 7:51 AM
comment #5
McClaneSveUs
says ...
Ryan Reynolds is clearly BRUCE WILLIS when Willis was that age.
Willis, of course, got Die Hard at 32 or 33 and his career was solidified. Reynolds needs something that utilizes his charm and his timing - he's tried comedy and done alright, but perhaps something showing his physicality?
Maybe he's a villain in waiting?
Posted by McClaneSveUs
at January 12, 2009 7:55 AM
comment #6
swordandpen
says ...
tommysunshine, once again, you make another idiotic statement. My issue with them is that they're boring actors, which is why I don't include "young white guys" like Ryan Gosling, Emile Hirsch or James Franco (even if they're not always in good movies) in that group.
Your last paragraph is too moronic and bizarre to address. "Young white guys?" Huh? When did I bring up their race?
I'm surprised you didn't work in another of your "Bush is a man of integrity and Obama is Satan" statements into it to complete its ridiculousness. You can disagree with an opinion and not have to feel your status as a Caucasian is being threatened.
Posted by swordandpen
at January 12, 2009 7:56 AM
comment #7
Josh Massey
says ...
Hell, I think Reynolds is a better actor than Redford. Which isn't difficult.
Posted by Josh Massey
at January 12, 2009 9:21 AM
comment #8
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
I have always thought Ryan Reynolds is overrated as an actor, too (but still hot).
well, maybe he hasn't found the right role... OR he has a shitty agent who needs to be fired!
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at January 12, 2009 9:22 AM
comment #9
MindlessObamaton
says ...
In other news: RR woke up this morning to ScarJo sucking his cock. Yeah, trust me, the guy has more than enough for himself, movie star or not!
Posted by MindlessObamaton
at January 12, 2009 9:25 AM
comment #10
Circumvrent
says ...
Ever since she's gotten married, I have been confident in my assertion that Scarlett Johannsenn was, in fact, married to Ryan Gosling. These guys all meld in my head into one uber-blank actor.
Posted by Circumvrent
at January 12, 2009 9:46 AM
comment #11
lesterg
says ...
Well, he might wind up as the star of an X-Men spin-off if Wolverine performs. Still, I certainly wouldn't consider "Deadpool" to be his Die Hard, let alone Sundance.
He seems like a guy destined for the small screen. Five years from now, he'll probably be in a cushy sitcom job with Brinks trucks backing up to his house daily.
BTW, Didn't that movie he was in with Amy Smart and Anna Farris do pretty well?
Posted by lesterg
at January 12, 2009 10:02 AM
comment #12
wadewilson
says ...
Don't any of you guys realize Ryan is going to be in the new Wolverine film? As Deadpool, a firm fan favourite in the comic world. There is going to be tonnes of pressure on him to perform, maybe even more so than Hugh Jackman himself. It's also inevitable that there will be a solo Deadpool film.
And I don't think you can put Reynolds in the Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen group, he can actually act if give something to work with.
Posted by wadewilson
at January 12, 2009 11:05 AM
comment #13
The Winchester
says ...
Watch Reynolds in the Nines, and you'll see he's in a different league than Paul Walker and Hayden Christensen and all those others mentioned before. (Although I like Chris Evans, he's the only good part about those Fantastic 4 movies, and I found him badass in Sunshine).
And that Just Friends movie Reynolds was in is far better than it should be. Maybe he needs to follow his namesake, and star in a bunch of movies about bootlegging and fast cars in the south, or a remake of Sharkey's Machine.
Posted by The Winchester
at January 12, 2009 11:17 AM
comment #14
hunterd
says ...
Ryan Reynolds is incredibly well known and well liked for VAN WILDLER. The college set friggin LOVES this movie (I've never seen it all the way through).
As for the where are his "great" movies argument...umm...THE NINES.
Posted by hunterd
at January 12, 2009 11:35 AM
comment #15
LeroyBrown
says ...
Talented? Charming? Good looking? Maybe it's just me, but I don't get it.
Posted by LeroyBrown
at January 12, 2009 11:35 AM
comment #16
hunterd
says ...
btw, in Paul Walker's defense, RUNNING SCARED is the best action movie of the decade.
Posted by hunterd
at January 12, 2009 11:41 AM
comment #17
snoop
says ...
I'm always impressed when Wells hits on something like this, because it seems to me the Reynolds is having the Josh Hartnett problem (although Hartnett has shown a bit mroe range, and does have a few more memorable films). Solid through and through, possibly has the chops, but hasn't gotten the right film to put him over the top.
I can't make a claim as to why Reynolds is not working with A directors, but by all acounts it seems like he's trying to do some interesting things that jsut aren't connecting well. For every Defintely, Maybe commerical film he's done, he's also tried to do a indy like The Nines (interesting wtf that did nothing).
I'd make the case that while most of his movies are solid, he's making the wrong moves on both the indy and commercial front, but it may be the best of what he's being offered so what do I know.
Posted by snoop
at January 12, 2009 11:41 AM
comment #18
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
Anyone else find Running Scared incredibly overrated? I could barely finish it, and I love a good action flick. Give me JCVD over that steaming pile...
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 12, 2009 11:49 AM
comment #19
bmcintire
says ...
His first big dip into "physicality" was BLADE 3, which was an out-and-out abortion of a movie (though not necessarily to his detriment). He looked amazing in that one, but that was the extent of it - which gives me little hope for his role in WOLVERINE. And I am at a loss as to figuring out what he is doing in ADVENTURELAND. The other characters his age that work at the park are the doofuses running the place. What is he supposed to be, a pedophile or just a really old slacker? A clean-cut version of McConaghey's character in DAZED AND CONFUSED?
Posted by bmcintire
at January 12, 2009 12:08 PM
comment #20
rr3333
says ...
Before films, he did the sitcom '2 Guy and a Girl'. Seems like he'll give movies a shot for 5 years, and if its a dead end, its back to tv land.
Poster who mentioned Bruce Willis comparisons nailed it. If Reynolds cant find his Die Hard to launch his movie career, it'll be back to tv.
I say for now, he's more pretender than the real thing.
Posted by rr3333
at January 12, 2009 12:17 PM
comment #21
BurmaShave
says ...
Guy can do action and comedy, and maybe soon he'll have to choose which. I think the Bruce Willis comparison is an excellent one. And in the meantime, yeah he's married to Scarlett, so fuck him, he'll be fine.
Posted by BurmaShave
at January 12, 2009 1:22 PM
comment #22
YRG
says ...
He doesn't appeal to me as a moviegoer.
That's probably why I've never seen any of his films.
That, and they're probably not that good.
Shoot me for being judgmental.
Matt Damon would play him in the movie, and probably win an Oscar.
Posted by YRG
at January 12, 2009 4:35 PM
comment #23
MilkMan
says ...
I was always under the assumption that Ryan Reynolds was just another Jim Carrey clone, but neither funny, inventive or crazy enough to make a big enough splash to separate himself from the other tall scoops of vanilla ice cream that pass for leading men.
Girls like him. Great. Girls like a lot of actors. There are two women in my office who think Jon Cryer is dreamy. What makes someone great are the stabs at greatness. Reynolds has none of that professional derring-do in him. And why should he? The guy is pulling down a coupld of mil a film and sleeping with a girl, who by accounts (even though I have no idea why) is considered the hottest piece of ass on the planet. He's got no angst, no edge, represents nothing interesting or interior. Doing a Charlie Kaufman knock-off (by that enternal crank turner John August) in the year 2006 tells me that the only thing he keeps up with are his abs and his hair and whether or not he should draft Joe Thornton for his rotisserie hockey league team. Just because I would like to be him doesn't mean I like him.
Plus I can tell he just wants everyone to like him, which makes me actively feel indifferent to him. Not only would I not pay to see him in a movie, but when I see his face on the television I turn the channel immediately.
Posted by MilkMan
at January 12, 2009 5:21 PM
comment #24
Yuval
says ...
I always thought he was the less funny, less talented, more good looking clone of Jason Lee. Every movie I saw him in sucked, his sitcom sucked, and he always seemed dumber than his characters were supposed to be. Then I saw Definitely Maybe last year and he was very charming and the movie worked well. He's actually not that bad.
Posted by Yuval
at January 12, 2009 11:34 PM
comment #25
wadewilson
says ...
to be fair, blade trinity was a pile of crap. but it is a wide held opinion by a lot of people that he was the best thing about it. that seems to happen to him a lot. he is in some crap movies that don't have much success, but he is always talked about as being the best thing about then.
Posted by wadewilson
at January 13, 2009 8:14 AM
comment #26
wadewilson
says ...
and for those who don't know anything about deadpool, he is a very dark character. definitely not your standard comic book hero. and reynolds himself is a big fan of the merc with the mouth, he'll know what he has to do. i think a lot of people will be suprised with his role in the wolverine film, it won't be the usual happy go lucky, class clown. there is a lot of depth to him.
Posted by wadewilson
at January 13, 2009 8:19 AM
comment #27
GML
says ...
Films today are often not written for performances. They are written/edited for box office. Maybe there is an over population of good actors out there still waiting for one of those few quality performance drivien films that don't come by that often. I hope Reynolds and all the others named in this thread get their chance. All of them have already scratched the surface with good performances.
Posted by GML
at January 15, 2009 4:11 PM
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