When you think of two actors that seem to be on two opposite ends of the acting spectrum, you can’t think of any better examples than Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds. Gyllenhaal may have started with some real head-scratching career choices (looking at you, “Bubble Boy”), but has turned into one of the finest dramatic actors of his generation, with incredible performances in “Nightcrawler,” “Prisoners,” “Brokeback Mountain,” and the upcoming “Wildlife,” just to name several. And trust us, there’s more. And Reynolds has “Van Wilder,” a string of romantic comedies, and “Deadpool” to hang his hat on. No shade, but clearly, they’re on different career paths.
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That being said, they’re both friends and colleagues, having worked on the 2017 film “Life” together. And in a new tribute published by Variety, Gyllenhaal breaks down what makes Reynolds one of the best actors around. Gyllenhaal writes about first meeting the “Deadpool” star, “I first met Ryan many years ago, and he struck me immediately as quick and warm and thoughtful, a gentleman in an era of foppish putzes, the unlikely love child of Mel Brooks and Dorothy Parker and Gary Cooper. He was also taller than me. Against my wishes, we became close friends.”
He continues, “Audiences got to know Ryan a bit through his work in a string of romantic comedies. He was undoubtedly charming and handsome (annoying), but he never quite had the space to fire on all cylinders. What we all want for our friends in this business is for the world to see what we see, and as actors, that only happens in a perfect storm of timing and the full luck.”
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Of course, audiences got to see (as Gyllenhaal points out) Reynolds firing on all cylinders in the two “Deadpool” films, which by all accounts is the best example of the actor’s true talents. Of course, it took a foul-mouthed, indestructible superhero for Reynolds to shine.
The full tribute from Gyllenhaal is a joy to read, as he says some of the sweetest things, with tinges of humor (as he explains that Reynolds’ own brand of gin helps him be a good husband). It’s well worth a read.
And if you want some more Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds goodness, here’s a video of the two showing off their awesome humor together in an interview about “Life:”
 tribute, Jake Gyllenhaal gushes about his friendship with Ryan Reynolds and what makes him a great actor.){kind=link}