Ryan Reynolds may juggle genres with the ease of a showman and wear enough feathers in his cap to rival a peacock in full parade. However, in the land of celluloid dreams, none shine brighter than his halo as Marvel’s Messiah of Mayhem. His identity has become inseparable from the wisecracking, fourth wall-breaking mercenary. Yet, beneath the red suit and regenerative punchlines lies a paradox: a performer boxed in by the very role that immortalized him. Hollywood has confused Reynolds’ potential with a punchline, rarely daring to cast him beyond the shadow of his multiversal mask. Though he has delivered deftly in other domains, romantic comedies remain woefully underexplored.

In Reynolds’ case, the romantic lead remains a rosebud, not a bloom.

Ryan Reynolds reeks of comedic cadence and the boy-next-door-meets-Hollywood-heartthrob energy. However, as Tinseltown often does, it turned a blind eye to what could have been a rom-com renaissance. Reynolds appeared in lead roles of commercial blockbuster romantic comedies Just Friends (2005), Definitely, Maybe (2008), and The Proposal (2009). However, since that specific box office window, the actor has not returned to the genre despite his potential.

Just Friends, Roger Kumble’s 2005 Christmas flick, starred Reynolds as Chris Brander, offering a humorous take on platonic relationships and terms like “just friends.” The film grossed over $50 million, earning a cult status in the rom-com hall of fame. Definitely, Maybe was a superhit movie as well, which grossed $55 million against a $24 million budget. Reynolds portrayed William Matthew Hayes. However, The Proposal was Reynolds’ rom-com mic drop, which earned a whopping $317 million on a $40 million budget. 

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Though Ryan Reynolds hit the bullseye every time he took love on a box office outing, he remains a rom-com king Hollywood could not capitalize on. 

Romantic comedies could have been a home turf for Ryan Reynolds if he had chosen it to be. Instead, it remains a barely-touched chapter in his filmography, though he plays the rom-com lead in his own fairytale full time. Hollywood, in its relentless typecasting tradition, has left his cinematic potential to linger in the drafts of superhero movies. However, Reynolds is a natural fit for the genre, whether Tinseltown pays attention or not. Although Hollywood should utilize his comedic essence, it has limited his opportunities in more ways than one.

In fact, the rom-com genre has faced challenges in recent years, potentially confining Reynolds’ growth in the space. However, if showbiz plans to capitalize on his rom-com abilities, not only could it benefit from his effortless humor, charming on-screen presence, and dramatic depths, but also the fact that he is a box office draw who has the ability to carry forward franchises. While he may have become synonymous with multiversal daring, Tinseltown has yet to witness the multiverse of Reynolds, and Hollywood should have known better.

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