# I don't think Keanu Reeve is a terrible actor

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-keanu-reeve-is-a-terrible-actor/314296>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 26, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-keanu-reeve-is-a-terrible-actor/314296 "2005-07-26T21:05:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-keanu-reeve-is-a-terrible-actor/314296/41 "2005-07-29T17:30:05Z")

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> [@featherlou](#):
>
> Also, that article quotes some of Keanu’s co-stars saying he is actually a very smart, very funny, talented guy. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt; he’s smart enough to stay out of the Hollywood fishbowl, and that counts for something.

When I’ve seen him interviewed, I’m always struck by the fact that he seems so…_thoroughly animated_. He smiles; he cracks jokes; he makes sometimes expansive physical gestures; his command of the English language, and fluid manner of speaking, indicates above-average intelligence; he really seems quite charming, overall. Real-life Keanu is almost the complete opposite of his on-screen persona. How does he do it, transform into a total robothespian as soon as he gets in front of a camera? Even more, _why_ does he do it?? It’s baffling. Utterly baffling.

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**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-keanu-reeve-is-a-terrible-actor/314296/42 "2005-07-29T20:12:36Z")

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I think he’s good in the right roles. I liked him in _Matrix, Constantine, Bill & Ted, Point Break_ (I think that’s the right movie), and \*Parenthood. \*

I haven’t seen the other movies y’all have referenced except for _Much Ado About Nothing._ I loved the movie, but his (fortunately) limited role makes me laugh harder than Michael Keaton’s antics as Dogberry.

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**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-keanu-reeve-is-a-terrible-actor/314296/43 "2005-07-29T23:16:49Z")

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> [@Nic2004](#):
>
> I enjoyed The Replacements quite a bit. Not a big stretch for him i think but a fun movie.

One of the weird things about this movie is he had a body double dance for him in the jail house “I Will Survive,” song and dance scene. I couldn’t believe it when a friend told me, but I watched it later and sure enough.

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-think-keanu-reeve-is-a-terrible-actor/314296/44 "2005-07-30T03:57:19Z")

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> [@Loopydude](#):
>
> \<snip\> How does he do it, transform into a total robothespian as soon as he gets in front of a camera? Even more, _why_ does he do it?? It’s baffling. Utterly baffling.

This might be a case of “Don’t argue with success.” He is unarguably an extremely successful actor, so maybe why he’s doing it isn’t so important.

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