Ryan Reynolds Is Grossly Out of Touch With the Biggest Criticism of His Career and His Defense for Andrew Garfield Interview Pairing Proves It
- Andrew Garfield’s diverse filmography in contrast to Ryan Reynolds’ comedic niche caused online criticism.
- Reynolds defended comedy after a comment criticized his role as Deadpool compared to Andrew Garfield’s role in 'We Live In Time'.
- Netizens primarily criticized Reynolds' lack of versatility in roles, but the actor understood the criticism differently.
Cinema has a place for every story to fit, and that is why, with time, we find new genres in movies and shows. However, it is also true that every genre is not likely to receive the same reaction or number of audiences as the others due to the difference in fanbase.
Ryan Reynolds and Andrew Garfield are probably two of the biggest stars of today’s generation who can probably represent this particular situation. They both have starred in superhero films, but their careers are very different, and Reynolds’ recent comment on this difference has stirred an ongoing debate once again.
Ryan Reynolds Defends His Position Alongside Andrew Garfield
In 2024, Ryan Reynolds was seen in Deadpool & Wolverine, which is the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever, along with IF, which was not a hit. At the same time, Andrew Garfield appeared in We Live in Time, which received a decent response.
Variety is coming up with its 21st season of Actors on Actors, and Reynolds and Garfield will be seen together this time. While Reynolds’ movie was way more successful than Garfield’s this year, netizens took a dig at the Deadpool star for the type of role and discussion he could bring to the table. As per The Independent, one X user wrote,
Andrew Garfield talking about playing a husband and father who’s [sic] wife decides to forgo cancer treatment and Ryan Reynolds talking about playing Deadpool.
The user most probably wanted to mean that Reynolds’ role as Deadpool is way less serious, effortless, and lacking in depth as compared to Garfield’s character, who has to show his serious, emotional side. Replying to the user’s now-deleted post, Reynolds wrote,
Correct. Andrew’s a genius. He and Florence are magic together in, WE LIVE IN TIME. They’re heartbreaking and charming and spend the entire film in a high-wire act of humanity and constraint. And yes I am Deadpool BUT I will take a second and speak up in defense of comedy.
Reynolds seemingly took the user’s comment as a subtle jibe at comic roles, and in his defense, he wrote, that although “dramatic work is difficult,” “comedy is also very difficult.” The actor mentioned that dramatic roles are meant to be perceived as difficult, which is why they feel “visceral and effective.”
But comedy is “meant to look and feel effortless,” otherwise, it won’t work. Although Reynolds believed “both are deeply subjective,” he tried to break the stereotypical notion that comedy roles are easy and require less work.
Netizens Hit Back After Ryan Reynolds’ Defense of Comedy
Although Reynolds’ belief that comedy is a serious business is true, many feel that most of his roles, especially after Deadpool, have been him playing one character again and again. Fans have always felt that Deadpool is just an exaggerated version of Reynolds himself and that all his roles, like in Free Guy and Red Notice, feel as if the actor is playing himself on screen.
These discussions were fueled as Reynolds will be featured against Garfield, who is known for his versatility. Since his breakthrough movie, The Social Network, Garfield has played different characters in movies like Hacksaw Ridge, Breathe, Mainstream, Tick, Tick… Boom!, and now, We Live in Time.
U play the same character in every film 😭😭
— Ty (@tydriscoll7) December 6, 2024
and what does ryan reynolds have to contribute to actors on actors pic.twitter.com/seEgxkFq0A
— re: emma (@evemmore) December 5, 2024
i think hugh jackman should’ve been on actors on actors instead of ryan reynolds pic.twitter.com/92fu4Vf8O2
— rem ꒦꒷ (@themarvells) December 5, 2024
People are hating on Ryan Reynolds because they think he's a bad actor compared to Andrew Garfield and then this is them: pic.twitter.com/xkMfTsVzFh
— ◂𝖦𝖾𝗈𝗋𝗀𝗂𝖾 (@Geoxleem) December 6, 2024
How hard is comedy when you're the same character in nearly every movie you've starred in?
— DambroseK (@dambrose_k) December 6, 2024
The comedy genre is filled with talented actors like Eddie Murphy, Jim Carrey, Martin Lawrence, and Adam Sandler, among many others. Moreover, what the netizens have criticized here is primarily about the versatility of Reynolds as an actor.
It is not a question of whether comedy is respected or ignored or whether Reynolds is funny or not. However, it seems like Reynolds has taken the criticism from a totally different perspective altogether.
