Despite the Love, Fans Still Think Keanu Reeves Is a Horrible Actor
Keanu Reeves has been in the acting spotlight since he was 25, but now that he’s entered his 50s, he seems to be getting more love than ever from fans. We remember him for his iconic roles in Speed and The Matrix, and while John Wick has put him back in the spotlight, it appears his pleasant attitude and respectfulness toward his fans is really what fans are here for. Not only that, but knowing Reeves is this nice despite having a tragic past makes him that much more loveable.
There’s no doubt Reeves is universally loved for who he is as a person — but his acting is a different story. Unfortunately, fans still think he’s a one-trick pony when it comes to his on-screen roles. Here’s what they’ve said.
Keanu Reeves is known for being one of the nicest actors in Hollywood
Reeves’ resurgence on the big screen has reminded filmgoers that the star is humble, caring, and loyal to his fans — and presently, it’s all the internet can talk about. According to author Reza Aslan, Reeves bought the property that’s now his son’s preschool just so the kids in the community would have a school to attend. And another fan mentioned that when he approached Reeves on the street to take a photo with him, Reeves was “the nicest guy on the planet” about it and allowed the selfie to be taken. Not only that, but the actor is also known for being ultra-respectful toward women and funding charities without making a big deal out of it.
Reeves is just learning that everyone in America loves him, too — and he had quite the humble response. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Reeves mentioned that the love has “been really nice and special for me. Just how well the John Wick film was received and then also recently with Always Be My Maybe and then being connected with CD Projekt Red.”
Many fans still think his acting is one-note, however
While there’s no argument for how great Reeves is as a person, many are still unconvinced by his acting. Reeves has gotten flack for his stilted performances since the days of The Matrix, and many see his action-hero characters as completely one-note. Fans took to Reddit to further discuss the matter, too. “I mean, I liked John wick and the matrix and that one with the time machine, but can we be frank? Keanu Reeves is not a good actor, right? [sic],” one fan wrote. “This isn’t someone I hate, I just don’t think he is a great actor or even a good one.” On the same thread, another commented, “I agree, he’s not great. And I think he knows it, which is why he remains humble about his celebrity and donates to charities without a lot of publicity. He’s a good guy.”
Reeves’ stilted acting was pointed out on another Reddit thread, too. “Keanu Reeves is a really, really bad actor, and the overwhelming majority of his popularity on this website is due to bandwagoning,” one Reddit user pointed out. Another added, “He’s a great guy in real life that’s why I think he gets the love. But solely on acting ability he isn’t very good.”
Despite the critique, fans think he makes a great John Wick
Moviegoers may think Reeves plays the same type of action hero in every film, but even so, there’s no doubt his acting style is perfect for the John Wick films. As AV Club notes, “All that training has made Reeves a sturdy, reliable action star: Even when the movies are bad (Constantine) or baffling (47 Ronin), it’s hard to look away from the man at the center of them, who’s settled nicely into his wheelhouse.”
The writer for the publication also notes that while Reeves may be comically bad at accents and romance in his films, when he’s cast in the right role (especially when that role involves him with a firearm in a suit), he becomes iconic. “He locks, loads, aims, moving fluidly in and out of fighting stance. It looks like muscle memory, like second nature. It looks like he was born to do this,” AV Club continues. With the recent success of John Wick 3, it looks like we should anticipate more films from the franchise in the future, too.
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