Entertainment
Ryan Reynolds Is Wrong About Comedy
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Most people would think Ryan Reynolds is an expert on comedy, especially after the Hollywood funnyman cracked us all up in Deadpool & Wolverine. However, he got called out recently on X when it was announced that he would be part of Variety’s Actors On Actors series, with one user pointing out that Andrew Garfield would be discussing performing a role involving cancer and grief, and Reynolds would simply discuss playing Deadpool. The Marvel Cinematic Universe actor responded with a post about how comedy is just as hard to perform as drama, but here’s the thing: Ryan Reynolds is completely wrong in his attempted defense of comedy.
Ryan Reynolds Goes On Defense
In the original X post, @drivcmycar alluded to the film We Live In Time, juxtaposing how Andrew Garfield would tell Variety about how he portrayed the heartbreaking struggle of a husband whose wife decides to forgo cancer treatment with how the other actor would just talk about playing Deadpool. This prompted Ryan Reynolds to post a lengthy reply “in defense of comedy” in which he claimed that it was just as difficult as drama but that we don’t notice because “comedy is meant to look and feel effortless” and drama is not. With respect to the insanely successful funnyman, though, we have to disagree. Good dramatic acting has always been harder to pull off than good comedic acting and always will be.
Ryan Reynolds’s basic thesis here is that drama is designed for us to “see it’s difficult” and that comedy requires just as much work but we don’t notice because it looks easy and effortless when pulled off the right way. However, you can tell how wrong he is by simply thinking back on your own life. For example, you’ve almost certainly made people laugh with a good joke from time to time, but how often have you moved people to tears with a display of raw emotion?
Obviously, Ryan Reynolds is a funny guy. With the Deadpool films, he has proven that comedy and superhero cinema go together like peanut butter and jelly. But as Deadpool, he doesn’t even have to show his face most of the time, and the beginning and end of his funniest scenes just involve him combining some vulgar quips with body language. Even if we limit ourselves to the world of Marvel movies, it’s clear that his Deadpool performance can’t really compare to Anthony Hopkins’ pathos as Odin, Willem Dafoe’s mania as the Green Goblin, or Robert Downey Jr’s utter transformation into Iron Man.
Stiff Dramatic Competition
If we go outside the realm of superhero cinema, Ryan Reynolds’ defense of comedy becomes even more ludicrous. Does anyone think it’s harder to tell a funny joke behind a funnier mask than it was for Daniel-Day Lewis to embody Abraham Lincoln or for Jamie Foxx to embody Ray Charles? Is it more difficult to quip about chimichangas than it was for Denzel Washington to perform in Training Day or for Tom Hanks to perform in Forrest Gump?
Those actors were notably all Best Actor winners, and that brings me to my final point: just how often does anyone bring home the Best Actor Oscar for a funny role, much less a superhero role? The closest we have come in recent years is Joaquin Phoenix winning the Oscar for Joker, and he ironically earned that award by flexing his dramatic chops rather than just telling jokes. His performance in that film is proof that great actors can be both funny and dramatic, and Ryan Reynolds should take note that Phoenix’s dramatic moments obviously took far more intensity (“maximum effort,” if you will) than his deliberately bad stand-up comedy routines.
This isn’t meant to be a criticism of Ryan Reynolds himself. He’s a comedy legend, and Deadpool & Wolverine remains one of the best films we’ve seen in years. But making audiences laugh is the easiest form of acting, especially when you have a team of production experts and Hollywood’s biggest studio helping each punchline land. And until he makes like Jim Carrey and shows us that he has true depth and range as an actor, he’ll remain a clown who simply dreams of being something more.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
