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That means that some of his older movies have been overshadowed by his newer work, despite their considerable quality. While not all of Reynolds’ movies have high ratings on movie databases, Reynolds can be counted on to always give a strong performance. Fans who want to watch some of the more underappreciated Ryan Reynolds movies have multiple options to choose from.
5 The Proposal (2009)
Before becoming an action hero in Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds has starred in a fair share of romantic comedies. The Proposal is one of the best and also the one that deserves more recognition. Not just for the fact that it turns around the established recipe of an older man and a younger woman that’s still prevalent in the world of cinema. Reynolds plays Andrew, an assistant to Sandra Bullock’s successful publisher Margaret. When Margaret discovers she’s about to be deported to Canada, she proposes to Andrew to get her citizenship.
While the basis for the relationship between them is somewhat sketchy, the movie puts it in a way that’s hard to find insulting. Especially since Reynolds and Bullock work well together as a team and are both charming and funny in their roles. The movie has a strong supporting cast as well, such as Mary Steenburgen as Andrew’s mom or the late brilliant Betty White as Andrew’s grandma Annie.
4 Paper Man (2009)
With only 19,000 ratings on IMDb, Paper Man is one of Ryan Reynolds’ lesser-known movies. Yet all viewers who enjoyed seeing Ryan Reynolds in superhero movies shouldn’t miss out on watching this one since Reynolds portrays a superhero in Paper Man as well, albeit an unusual one. The movie focuses on Jeff Daniels as Richard, a writer who isn’t doing so well, at least until he befriends Abby, played by Emma Stone.
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Reynolds then plays Captain Excellent, the superhero Richard had created and who’s giving him life advice. Since Reynolds plays an imaginary character in the movie, he doesn’t have to hold back and the scenes in which he interacts with Richard trying to teach him how to live are some of the best moments in the movie. However, even though Paper Man works with the superhero theme, at its core, it’s a humorous drama, not an action movie, which is good to take into consideration before viewers watch it.
3 Buried (2010)
The viewers who want to see Reynolds in a very different, more intimate, and civil acting role, shouldn’t miss out on watching Buried since Reynolds steals it for himself. He stars as Paul, a truck driver who works in Iraq. He’s attacked and when he wakes up, he’s buried alive and has to figure out how to get out of the coffin before he dies.
A bit similar to Locke (2013) and Tom Hardy’s performance, the camera doesn’t shy away from Reynolds for a second, giving him the chance to perform one of the most challenging roles of his career. The tension is high since the clock is ticking and both Paul and the audience realize Paul only has a limited time to save himself before it’s too late. The deadline as well as Reynolds’ strong performance will keep the viewers hooked from start to finish.
2 The Change-Up (2011)
A lot of comedies focus on romantic relationships. That’s why it’s always refreshing to see one that tells the story of a friendship instead. In this case, a friendship between two men who lead very different lifestyles. Dave (Jason Bateman) is a family man with a responsible job while Mitch (Ryan Reynolds) is flying solo and does what he wants. Naturally, each of them is envious of the other’s life. So when they unexpectedly switch places due to a wish said at the wrong place and wrong time, Dave and Mitch soon realize that their life isn’t so bad…but they have to find a way to return to it.
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While some jokes in the movie come across as crude, the playful and easy dynamic between the main buddy duo makes The Change-Up a must-watch for all fans of both Reynolds and Bateman. The theme of switching bodies is popular in the movies, and even though The Change-Up isn’t on the same level as Freaky Friday, fame-wise, it doesn’t disappoint everybody who wants to laugh.
1 The Voices (2014)
One of the most bizarre movies Ryan Reynolds has ever starred in will stay with the viewers even long after they finish watching it. Reynolds plays Jerry, a somewhat lonely and shy guy who finally finds the courage to talk to his crush Fiona (Gemma Arterton). The only problem is that Jerry has evil pets who are talking to him and generally, he’s not like everybody else.
The movie works with a dark sense of humor that doesn’t sit well with everyone but those who enjoy it are in for a fun experience. The Voices offer more than one surprising plot twist, and the actors are excellent, not just Reynolds and Arterton, but also Anna Kendrick as Lisa.
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