MovieChat Forums > Adventureland (2009) Discussion > People's assessments of the Ryan Reynold...

People's assessments of the Ryan Reynolds character are so colored by puritanical moralizing

posted 2 years ago by SlackerInc (1101)
5 replies | jump to latest

I don't believe sexual monogamy is a natural state for human beings (and my wife knows this by the way), so I don't judge him for being a womanizer. If I had his looks, I'd be womanizing like crazy too (and even as a more moderately good looking dude I have had my share).

But clearly many people don't agree with me about sexual morality, and I'm probably not going to change your mind if that's the case. I would just invite you though to look at his character and see if there's really anything else about him that suggests he's a jerk or a sleazeball. Isn't he actually pretty nice to everyone? Pretend for a moment you don't have a problem with adultery and womanizing. Is there anything else he does that is mean-spirited?

Keep in mind that Ryan Reynolds's infidelity is not a crime, whereas Jesse Eisenberg engages in--okay, the victimless crime of marijuana possession which I don't really count, but also repeatedly drives drunk. Which I do count, because that jeopardizes innocent people's lives. Yet so many people who judge the Reynolds character seem to give Eisenberg a pass on this. 🧐

[–] OratiaGlake (1254) a year ago

I have to agree.
The character from what was portrayed was not, as would be referred to in these types of movies ‘a total douche bag’.
He was not sleazy, he did show to care about his wife and lover and although did have one lie to create a more alluring illusion of himself (musically) did not appear to be a bad guy.
I thought it was a different and interesting character choice for Reynolds.

[–] SlackerInc (1101) a year ago

Well said! Imperfect but fundamentally not-malevolent characters are the most interesting.

[–] Kowalski (75523) a year ago

🤣

[–] Tongue (465) 10 months ago

But don’t you think a monogamous society is something we need to work towards..? I don’t think a polygamous society will work

[–] SlackerInc (1101) 10 months ago

I don't think it's something we should work towards, no. I am married, second time, two kids with each wife. I don't want to be monogamous and don't intend to be.

I would argue that the supposedly monogamous society we have now quite clearly doesn't work, because of human nature. What I advocate is that people be discreet and considerate, not parading extracurricular affairs in front of their mates, and taking pains not to embarrass them. But also not snooping on each other trying to "catch" the other "cheating".