FUNNY BUSINESS

What happens when one iconic comedic actor makes a movie about another? Reflections on life, death, fatherhood, nostalgia and Bill Murray's fax machine. A surprisingly serious conversation with Ryan Reynolds on the eve of the world premiere of John Candy: I Like Me

- JUDY BERMAN

Ryan Reynolds is a movie star, a producer, a marketing genius, a husband, a father of three, the owner of a gin company and a Welsh soccer team.

But in 2021, he was also something else: the guy who was always there. In August, his action-comedy Free Guy, a film whose release was delayed by the pandemic for more than a year, became that rare thing in modern Hollywood: a non-franchise summer blockbuster. In November, he starred alongside Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot in Netflix’s globetrotting art-heist thriller Red Notice, which is on track to become the platform’s most-watched movie ever. And that’s not to mention his supporting role in August’s The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard or his voice work in May’s animated sequel The Croods: A New Age.

It’s an impressive slate for any year, but it’s all the more remarkable in a time when the movie business is still struggling to its feet. Reynolds’ ubiquity is a testament to his talent, his work ethic and his shrewd understanding of the cultural landscape. But it’s also a reflection of something more fundamental: his ability to connect with audiences on a personal level. He’s the rare star who can be both aspirational and relatable, a guy who seems like he’d be just as comfortable at a backyard barbecue as on a red carpet.

That everyman quality is at the heart of his appeal. It’s what makes him so effective as a pitchman, whether he’s hawking cell phones, gin or his own movies. And it’s what makes him such a compelling presence on screen, whether he’s playing a wisecracking superhero or a mild-mannered bank teller who discovers he’s a character in a video game.

In a year when so much of our lives has been lived through screens, Reynolds has been a constant, comforting presence. He’s made us laugh, he’s made us cheer, and he’s reminded us of the power of movies to bring us together. And for that, he’s one of our Entertainers of the Year.