A Star Beyond Just Humor and Good Looks
Ryan Reynolds, a Canadian actor known for captivating the masses through his charismatic roles, has dominated the Hollywood scene since the early ’90s. Many associate him with the blockbuster hit Deadpool, but those in the know—critics and devoted fans alike—often point to another role as his tour de force: Jerry Hickfang in the 2014 horror-comedy The Voices. While Reynolds has navigated his way through an array of genres, from rom-coms to action-packed blockbusters, it’s time we take a closer look at why this particular role reveals an actor with depths we’ve yet to fully explore.
“Once you start talking to your pets, there’s no turning around. And that’s what Reynolds truly captures: the idea that Jerry is a man forced down a road of violence by things that he cannot control.”
—Brian Tallerico, writing for Roger Ebert
The Intricate Webs of Jerry Hickfang
Ryan Reynolds breaks the mold in The Voices as Jerry Hickfang, a young man battling schizophrenia and an intense internal struggle for his own soul. With his reality distorted by delusions—among them talking pets representing his own moral compass—Jerry inadvertently becomes a serial killer after a series of unfortunate events. Despite his violent tendencies, his true battle is to fit into a society that stigmatizes him, capturing the quintessential theme of the tragic hero stuck in a labyrinth of his own creation.
Beyond Surface-Level Stardom
By the time Reynolds stepped into the shoes of Jerry Hickfang, he was already at a career pinnacle, his name synonymous with handsome and comedic. Yet, this role seemed almost like a response to industry typecasting, where his charm and good looks were his most marketable assets. While those factors have played a role in Reynolds’ widespread popularity, they’ve also been limiting, pigeonholing him into the ‘funny-sexy guy’ category. As Brian Tallerico pointed out, “The joy in Reynolds’ eyes when he is shown human kindness by another co-worker (the always-great Anna Kendrick) is as key to this performance as the insanity that other actors would have focused on and turned into scenery chewing.”
Not Just Another Pretty Face
When it comes to his performance in The Voices, Ryan Reynolds demonstrated a complex, multi-layered character. Here was an actor portraying a soul battling not just his own inner demons, but also societal discrimination. With an understated but profound portrayal, Reynolds shone as he took audiences on an emotional journey into the mind of a deeply flawed yet sympathetic character. It was a rare glimpse into an actor capable of much more than quips and punches.
The Role That Echoes Louder Over Time
While Ryan Reynolds continues to dominate the silver screen with Deadpool sequels, along with other big-budget films like Detective Pikachu and Free Guy, it’s critical not to let this one monumental performance be washed away by the sea of his newer roles. Yes, Reynolds has an unparalleled knack for comedy and has an undeniable chemistry with his fans both on and off the screen, but let’s not forget: there’s far more to him than just that.
The Final Frame
Ryan Reynolds has proven that he’s not just a one-trick pony. With a repertoire of roles ranging from the hilarious to the heartrending, he’s solidified his status as a versatile Hollywood powerhouse. But it’s The Voices, that “forgotten” role, that serves as a constant reminder of the raw talent Reynolds possesses. The film remains a deep dive into the actor’s capabilities, far beyond what the audience has come to expect from him. And for that, it stands as a pinnacle that Reynolds himself, and his fans, should revisit more often.
