I celebrate the guy who got his Hollywood start in a fictional pizza joint.
With the box office smash of the summer, Deadpool and Wolverine, clearly Ryan Reynolds is currently the face of Hollywood. Armed with a deadly smile, knowing eyes, great hair and killer comedic timing, he has enjoyed a very successful film career for years now. With so many movies under his belt, it might be daunting to pick your favorites. But that’s exactly what I am going to attempt to do. But first, how did we get here?
A Brief Reynolds Bio
Ryan got his start in acting at age 13 in his home country of Canada, but quit a few years later to attend college full-time. At the request of fellow actor Chris William Martin, Reynolds would pick up acting again and landed a role on the Canadian teen soap opera Hillside. He would soon be getting guest spots on TV shows The Odyssey, The X-Files, and The Outer Limits. But the show that really launched him came about when he landed a starring role on the TV sitcom Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place, in the character of medical student Berg.
From there he moved into full length films, beginning with the raunchy and entertaining comedy Van Wilder in 2002. Enjoying a prolific movie career, he has now starred in everything from crowd-pleasing blockbusters to the more challenging independent films. It is notable that he has also expanded beyond Hollywood, having business interests in telecom companies and co-ownership of the Welsh football club Wrexham A.F.C., which has its own documentary TV series Welcome to Wrexham. Not bad for the likable guy from Canada who got his Hollywood career rolling in a fictional pizza joint.
But it’s his movie career that is our topic of conversation today. So without further ado, here are The A Cute Film Addict 7 Favorite Ryan Reynolds Movies.
7. The Adam Project (2022)
The Adam Project was released exclusively on Netflix in 2022, directed by Shawn Levy with Ryan Reynolds in the lead role, the film is a science fiction family adventure that feels like it came out of the Amblin mold. Walker Scobell plays Adam, a bullied 12 year-old kid still mourning the death of his father, Mark Ruffalo, when he meets his older self from the future, Reynolds, a hotshot “time pilot.” Set in the near future where time travel is possible, thanks to the work of Adam’s brilliant quantum physicist father, both Adams are now trying to outrun an evil corporation that is seeking to monetize and profit off time travel. For sure The Adam Project is loaded with Reynolds’ usual quips and charm, but it also original science fiction with moving sentimentality about savoring every minute with those you love.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating 7.4/10
6. The Proposal (2009)
When his demanding and much despised she-devil of a boss (Sandra Bullock) is faced with deportation back to Canada, aspiring book editor Andrew, played by Ryan Reynolds is roped into an agreement to marry her. However, it just takes one whirlwind weekend at Andrew’s family estate in picturesque Alaska for sparks to actually begin to fly between the two and set off a hilarious and romantic set of events. Yes, The Proposal is more or less your standard-issue studio romantic comedy, but the dynamic chemistry between Ryan and Sandra B. make it really easy to say “I do.”
A Cute Film Addictive Rating 7.5/10
5. The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)
Reynolds plays a protection agent tasked with escorting his longtime enemy, Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson), an underworld hitman, to testify at The Hague against an evil European dictator (Gary Oldman) in this wisecracking action-comedy from director Patrick Hughes. Of course, things go horribly wrong and the two men must reluctantly work together to make it out alive. The Hitman’s Bodyguard makes excellent use of Ryan and Sam J., and is a resplendent throwback to the gritty action movies of the 80’s and 90’s (a la Rush Hour). Viewers of this film are in for one heck of a thrill-ride.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating 7.6/10
4. Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Definitely, Maybe is the sweet tale of not one true love, but the winding road that many different romances take us down. In the film directed by Adam Brooks, Reynolds is Will, a former political consultant in New York City dealing with an impending divorce. When his young daughter (Abigail Breslin) begs him to tell her the story of how he met her mother, he instead tells her the story of the three biggest past loves of his life that led him to her mother. Elizabeth Banks, Isla Fisher, and Rachel Weisz co-star in this stakes-free “mystery” that guides Breslin and the audience to speculate on which of the three women are the mother. The strong script and the charisma of the brilliant leads make the film Definitely, Maybe definitely, and not maybe, a wonderful movie.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating 7.8/10
3. The Croods (2013) The first modern family
The prehistoric Croods family are living in a particularly dangerous moment in history. Patriarch Grug (Nicolas Cage), along with his family including teenage daughter Eep (Emma Stone), gather food by day and huddle together in a cave at night. When a more evolved caveman named Guy (played by Reynolds) arrives on the scene, Grug is distrustful, but it is soon apparent that Guy is correct about the impending destruction of the world. With its wonderful animation, cool characters and fun story, The Croods will leave you wanting more. And when it does, you’re in luck, there’s a sequel.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating 7.8/10
2. Free Guy (2021) Its Back to Back Guys
Free Guy is a “Hero’s Journey” Grand Theft Auto style, a lighthearted and colorful crowd-pleaser set in the world of video games. Directed by Shawn Levy, Free Guy takes place (at least mostly) in a popular online game entitled Free City. Among Free City’s many pre-programmed inhabitants is Guy (Ryan Reynolds), an unremarkable NPC (non-player character) who deviates from his programming to team up with living, human player in the form of actress Jodie Comer to take down the studio’s selfish and outlandish CEO. It is notable that being released in the Summer of 2021, while we were all still in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, Free Guy’s outstanding box office performance was celebrated as an early indicator of the possibility of cinemas bouncing back from a year in lockdown.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating 7.8/10
1. The Deadpool Trilogy (2016, 2018, 2024) The Merc with the Mouth x 3
The trilogy that has changed superhero movies forever, in contrast to the rest of the family friendly Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Deadpool trilogy is an R-rated masterclass that showcases Reynolds breaking all the rules of clean cinema possible. The best thing about the movie is that at its core it is an unlikely love story, in which terminally ill assassin Wade Wilson (Reynolds) embarks on a dangerous procedure to activate his mutant genes in order to save his life for the sake of his new girlfriend Vanessa (the lovely Morena Baccarin). It is through becoming Deadpool that Reynolds upped the ante on superhero blockbusters by showing that superhero films can be a little naughty (okay, a lot naughty).
A Cute Film Addictive Rating 8.7/10
Deadpool 2 The Sequel
Deadpool 2 sees the Merc with the Mouth dealing with the loss of his true love Vanessa and assembling his own team of mutants called “X-Force” to take down the time-traveling cyborg Cable (Josh Brolin). Replacing outgoing director Tim Miller, David Leitch nails the styling of Deadpool just right and produces a solid sequel.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating 8.3/10
Deadpool & Wolverine Come Together
This year’s Summer blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine finds a depressed Wade Wilson toiling away in civilian life with his days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, seemingly behind him. But soon his home world faces an existential threat and Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctant Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), returning to the role after his previous retirement from the character with 2017’s Logan. The film makes excellent use of both parties and there is good reason its continuing to demolish box office records.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating 8.7/10
Ryan Reynolds is truly the face of the Hollywood leading man, with his handsome charm and sharp comic timing, he should be for years to come. I hope you have enjoyed this post. If you have, feel free to leave a comment. If not, don’t blame me, I’m just the author. Also for more fun and entertaining content on the movies, check out some recent articles.
