Ryan Reynolds is the Undisputed King of the Underappreciated Rom-Com

Ryan Reynolds is inherently likable. Regardless of genre or role, the charismatic actor imbues his characters with an innate affability. Van Wilder Ryan Reynolds? A charming rascal. Deadpool Ryan Reynolds? A foul-mouthed scamp. Green Lantern Ryan Reynolds? Um… well, hey, he did his best. While the actor is best known for his well-received portrayal of the Merc with a Mouth, his big-screen superhero exploits have overshadowed Reynolds’ best work: his portrayal of Mitch Planko in the “Freaky Friday but with nudity” comedy The Change Up.

Kidding. Rom-com Ryan Reynolds is the absolute best Ryan Reynolds. If you need proof, look no further than Definitely, Maybe, which is now streaming on Netflix.

Quick show of hands, who here enjoys Definitely, Maybe? If your hands aren’t waving in the air like you just don’t care, I got some bad news for you, friend: You’re dead inside. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Abigail Breslin, Isla Fisher, and copious amounts of unbridled whimsy, the 2008 comedy follows Reynolds’ Will Hayes, a political consultant who attempts to help his daughter (Breslin) better understand his impending divorce by sharing the story of how he ended up marrying her mother. Definitely, Maybe doesn’t reinvent the wheel; it won’t dazzle you with narrative misdirection or shocking revelations. The film succeeds due to the deceptively difficult combination of a clever script, a charismatic cast, an earnest, simple story, and an abundance of sincerity. There’s never any doubt that Isla Fisher’s April is the one Will Hayes wants to two straws/one milkshake it with for as long as they both shall live, but it doesn’t matter. The two share an electric chemistry and the entire film crackles with a fun, buoyant charm.

The best rom-coms are equal parts aspirational and relatable. We understand that sharing a passionate kiss on our doorstep with the one that got away is probably not in the cards, but Definitely, Maybe makes you question that logic, if only for a moment.

Definitely, Maybe boasts a respectable 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but another Ryan Reynolds rom-com gem is criminally underappreciated: Just Friends. I’m not going to summarize the film’s plot because if you’ve never seen this 2005 ray of light we’re in a feud, but it stars Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris, and Chris Klein and currently has a 42% Tomatometer rating. Not only is this score possibly criminal and certainly rude, but it also highlights the fact that Reynolds’ entertaining array of rom-coms don’t receive the critical or commercial acclaim they so richly deserve. Even Reynolds’ most successful (in terms of box office) rom-com, 2009’s The Proposal, has been disrespected by audiences. The movie, which also stars literal treasures Sandra Bullock and Betty White, has a 65% Tomatometer score. Can you believe it?

Well, you shouldn’t. I lied. That’s right. Deception is afoot. The Proposal, a film best described as a fucking delight, currently owns a paltry 45% Tomatometer score, proving once and for all that (overly dramatic italics) cinematic love is dead.

On one hand, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. On the other hand, all of those opinions are dead wrong and those critics should be fired and forced to watch Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo 100 times in a row. Definitely, Maybe, Just Friends, and The Proposal are delightful movies, you actual monsters. Ryan Reynolds is a rom-com virtuoso. It doesn’t matter the co-star — Amy Smart, Isla Fisher, Tara Reid, Morena Baccarin, a pizza place — Reynolds excels at the job of rom-com leading man. To deny that fact is to deny the very existence of love.

Don’t believe me? Stream Definitely, Maybe on Netflix. You won’t be sorry.

Stream Definitely, Maybe on Netflix