5 Celebrities Who Could Afford To Be More Reckless
1. Keanu Reeves
It's not to say that Keanu Reeves doesn't have his reasons for being a little lax on risk. The man has endured multiple personal tragedies, including the death of a former lover pregnant with his child. Anybody would say nay to a little risk after that. Unfortunately, we all have to work and Reeves has been handed so many perfect movie roles, yet he has yet to transcend the mindless surfer persona. It was the public's first introduction to him and even though he has since taken on the brooding stranger archetype, it's time to let go of that trope and explore new territory. He's going from airhead mall rat to I-may-or-may-not-be-a-robot. It's time to reconvene and have a look at your options. And don't be afraid to step back into comedy, Keanu. It may be the smartest thing you've ever done.2. Michael Cera
For the percentage of the population that enjoyed Superbad (of which we was one), Michael Cera's deadpan presentation (and maybe the fact that he plays bass) was a Millenial version of Vince Vaughn. He was awkward (SO awkward) and adorable (SO adorable), but what's left of Cera besides the smart-ass teenager? Does he have a another card in his deck? Current cinema experience is not in the affirmative as each movie is a recycled role of Evan of Superbad. Placing him together with Jack Black in Year One was poetic since both men have moderate music success and somewhat better movie film success playing the same role over and over. But Cera still has time before he becomes a niche actor (anybody remember Black's attempt to transcend this in The Holiday?...it wasn't pretty). What he needs to work with is a really crazy actor such as Sean Penn or Viggo Mortensen to shock his ass out of compliance to the media machine.
3. Tyler Perry
Who knew we'd one day have an African American president and black congressmen and women? And who knew that one day a black filmmaker would achieve ubiquitous success by recycling the same story line over and over until his name came to mean not a shorthand for an art noveau film emerging from the an underground minority movement, but a successful multimedia tool for Bible meetings? Tyler Perry is ubiquitous because he writes movies about what the media thinks black people are like (or thinks they should be like?). He's easy to digest and maybe that's what's so depressing. Easily digestible is the key definition of low art. Perry has a large fanbase and an amazing talent, but he settles for simple endings. The real beauty of art is that it leaves us conflicted and asks us to make a decision. Perry only does what people expect him to do, which is fine but with everything that has happened in the country in the past decade, don't you think there's an America outside of continuous church revivals?
4. Norm MacDonald
Norm MacDonald's high period in the mid to late 90s was filled with risky shots at top notch celebrities. It was rumored he was fired from SNL for repeatedly (and unapologetically) calling SNL producer Don Ohlmeyer's friend O.J. Simpson a murderer and on several occasions he pissed Barbara Walters off by stating (usually conservative and usually faux) political views. He repeatedly took (sometimes playful) swings at other comedians and comedy shows, but has now resigned himself to a comedy CD and stand-up. Maybe it's selfish reasons, but one thinks MacDonald has much more potential than to sit on his haunches and dick around with a system that longs for an anti-celebrity like himself. Dirty Work was raunchy and not artistic in any sense but certainly MacDonaldesque in the best way. The time has come for him to return to his caustic, infinitessimally ironic behavior, to start punching at the powerful people again. In a generation which is nothing but ironic, it would be quite welcome.5. Jim Carrey
Men in their fifties sometimes buy sports cars or go on trips around the world to renew their purpose in life. Jim Carrey has done a wide spectrum of films and received critical acclaim for many of them. So, why does he need to take a risk? Because Carrey is falling back to easy roles. Ace Ventura's manic slapstick and rubber faces was where he broke through and this type of humor is what he reverted to in the most recent Yes Man. He (perhaps essentially) seems to believe himself to be a comedian and not an actor. The Number 23 was an incredibly dark role and seemed a magnificent road for Carrey to descend down, but he has retreated from such movies. What he needs is a role which is evil, a character to divorce himself from the end of the spectrum he falls into (comedy/sappy romance). After all, what's more terrifying than the clown who kills people?
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