And let me clarify. By declaring myself as “not a fan”, what I really mean is I don’t find him to be a very good actor. In my opinion, he has a very narrow acting ability. Every character seems to be related to Ted from the Bill and Ted movies.
I wonder how many takes it took for him to deliver the complex line of, ”Woah”
And I can’t watch Speed without rolling my eyes every time Keanu delivers a line from his character Jack. I mean how can you not forget these memorable moments in the movie:
- Jack:
Harry, there's enough C-4 on this thing to put a hole in the world!
Jack:
It's a game. If he gets the money he wins, if the bus blows up he wins.Annie:
What if you win?Jack:
Then tomorrow we'll play another one.
Swat Cop:
Anything else that'll keep this elevator from falling?Jack:
Yeah. The basement.
So ok sure, maybe we can blame these "memorable" lines on the writers, but I seriously doubt that would have made a difference. Let’s just be honest, Keanu never was, is, and never will be on the action adventure pedestal as Sly Stallone or Arnold (who I also believe to not be class A actors). But could you imagine the Jason Bourne series with Keanu? Well I can, and now I can’t fall asleep tonight because of that nightmare in my head.
But maybe there is something else to this Keanu Reeves guy. While all his abilities seem to encompass his Ted character in Bill & Ted’s, he certainly also lives his life by their motto.
So here’s a question...
Pop quiz, hotshot! You make a boatload of money and could spend it on drugs, mansions, partying, and live a lavish life until you die. What do you do? What. Do. You. Do?
…and here’s how Keanu Reeves answers that question:
- He routinely bought lunch for the “grunt workers” on his movie sets.
- He gave $20,000 to a set builder in need.
- He sat down and showed compassion and empathy with a homeless person.
- He drove a woman, stranded on the side of the road, 50 miles out of his way because her car broke down.
- He’s a “complete badass” who bought Harleys for the special effects crew on the Matrix.
- He gave millions of dollars to save jobs on his movies.
- He gives up his seat on public transportation because he’s a gentleman.
- He waited 20 minutes in the rain outside of his own wrap party so he wouldn’t cause a scene.
- And oh…there’s also that “small” thing he does where he donates and finances children’s hospitals…without attaching his name to it.
I think we could all, to some degree, learn to "be excellent to each other". Keanu Reeves, you just may now be my favorite actor of all time.