5 Films Where Keanu Reeves Was Perfectly Cast (& 5 Times He Wasn’t)
5 Films Where Keanu Reeves Was Perfectly Cast (& 5 Times He Wasn’t)
While undeniably likable, Keanu Reeves has a history of being miscast. Conversely, Reeves was also perfect for certain roles.
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Keanu Reeves has been a box office draw since he won audiences over with his performance in 1989’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. On the plus side, the film was a success and showed audiences that Reeves could do comedy. The downside was the fact that audiences, to this day, believe it is the only kind of performance he can successfully achieve.
Reeves continues to challenge himself with roles that cover a wide range of film genres. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not. Here are five films where Reeves was perfectly cast and five were his casting was off.
10 Best: Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
A madcap idea of two empty-headed but lovable high school seniors who time travel throughout history and speak to various historical figures, just to get an “A” on their History test. A risky project, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure turned out to be a financial hit that pleased audiences and critics alike.
Reeves played Ted “Theodore” Logan and brought a foggy charm to his character that connected with audiences. The actor was a perfect fit for “Ted” and, for better or worse, his work in this film created a persona that would stick with Reeves throughout his career.
9 Worst: Bram Stoker’s Dracula
The expectations were astronomical when Francis Ford Coppola announced he was directing an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s most successful creation. While Bram Stoker’s Dracula was a success at the box office, most critics commented on the wild under and overacting by the decidedly uneven cast.
Sadly, it was Keanu Reeves who took the brunt of the criticism. His Jonathan Harker was savaged by fans and critics, with even the director retrospectively admitting that he might not have been critical enough of Reeves. All agreed that Reeve’s lack of ability to master an English accent rendered his performance stiff and hurt the film. His work in Coppola’s film always gets a mention when articles discuss miscasting in films.
8 Best: Point Break
In Katherine Bigelow’s 1991 action thriller, Reeves played F.B.I. agent “Johnny Utah” who goes undercover to catch a group of surfer/bank robbers.
Reeves’ acting style did him great justice here. His demeanor wide-eyed curiosity helped audiences and critics swallow the difficult pill of the actor playing a government agent. Reeves’s West Coast “brah” attitude worked perfectly for his character and added greatly to Point Break’s critical success.
7 Worst: Much Ado About Nothing
When one hears the words “William Shakespeare,” their first thought isn’t going to be Keanu Reeves. However, when Kenneth Branagh brought Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing to the big screen in 1993, the director cast Reeves as the villainous “Don Jon.”
It is true that Reeves was miscast here. Although he didn’t sink the film for critics nor audiences, he had a difficult time getting through the Shakespearean dialogue and all but drowned among the stronger cast.
6 Best: John Wick
What once worked for Charles Bronson ended up working for Keanu Reeves in the modern action series, John Wick. Reeves is the titular character, a tough-as-nails former assassin drawn back into the life on a path of violent revenge.
Keanu Reeves works extremely well as the Wick character, having little dialogue and lots of action. Reeves utilizes his eyes and small bits of dialogue to great effect. Critics gave the actor and series good reviews, while audiences accepted Reeves as a darker and more violent character unlike any he had played before.
5 Worst: Constantine
The character of “Constantine” was created as a hard-drinking, chain-smoking, vulgar, and unkempt Englishman. So, Keanu Reeves, right?
Some fans of the comic were up in arms with the casting of Reeves. Audiences and critics seemed to agree as the reviews were terrible and the box office low. Most of the ire was towards the miscasting of Reeves in the title role. While some believe he did a good job in the film, the majority complained that Reeves take wasn’t the way “Constantine” should’ve been portrayed.
4 Best: River’s Edge
In this somber 1986 film from Tim Hunter, Reeves plays Matt, a member of a group of slacker high school friends who are pressured into staying quiet after one of their friends commits a murder.
Reeves received praise for playing the moral center of the film. Critics cited his strength in portraying a combination of teenage confusion and soulfulness, bringing a center to the realistic drama.
3 Worst: Something’s Gotta Give
In this 2003 romantic comedy, Keanu Reeves was cast as a doctor who romances Diane Keaton’s lonely character. Something’s Gotta Give was a financial success and garnered a positive score on Rotten Tomatoes.
While critics were kind to Diane Keaton and her co-star Jack Nicholson, the same could not be said about Reeves. The actor was thought to be miscast as a doctor, but it was his lack of chemistry with Keaton that drew the most criticism. The consensus was that Reeves was too stiff and vacant next to the lively Diane Keaton.
2 Best: The Matrix
The Wachowski’s groundbreaking 1999 sci-Fi action extravaganza wowed moviegoers with its mind-blowing screenplay and jaw-dropping action sequences. The Matrix lit up the box office and began a franchise that continues today.
Keanu Reeves starred as Neo, the film’s hero. His unique acting style served the character well, as he starts all wide-eyed and naive before later becoming a confident and kick-ass hero. The Matrix and Neo became icons of the late ’90s.
1 Worst: 47 Ronin
This film follows a band of samurai who battle a mystical shogun in feudal Japan. Again, would anyone’s first casting thought be Keanu?
Reeves plays Kai, one of the samurai in 47 Ronin. While the actor’s father is part Chinese, that certainly isn’t Japanese, and Reeves took a serious critical drubbing. Reeves’ casting was attacked for being out of place and his performance was all but written off, as audiences stayed away in droves. The film became a major failure at the American box office and one of the biggest duds in Reeves’ filmography.
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/keanu-reeves-movies-cast-perfect/
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