But what makes Keanu so different, so likable? And why did it take the public so long to realize his talents and shift toward profound respect? Why is it that Keanu’s moment is arriving right now and in such force? The audience’s awareness of Reeves’s authenticity has only grown throughout his career as an actor.
At a glimpse, there are loads in his filmography to review; there may be no one else at Reeves’s level who has appeared in such diverse, culturally dominant films over such a sustained time.
What is it About Keanu?
In an age of fractured media scenes and niche celebrities, is there anyone in Hollywood who still has universal name approval and appeal? Does a public figure like this exist, whose persona can unite and speak to polarized audiences without alienating or excluding anyone?
If we had to choose someone, it would have to be Keanu Reeves, in particular. Pop culture exploding with a new respect for him, at the precise moment that his career has been on an upswing and he began dating Alexandra Grant.
Keanu's Reputation
While it'd be near impossible to collect and gather all of the times Reeves has warmed our hearts with his kind gestures, some moments have stuck out more than others and set Reeves' reputation as our favorite boyfriend.
The Keanu renaissance, or “the Keanaissance,” has generated one discussion after another, each suggesting a culture fascinated by his versatility and enduring career — but even more in love with his very personable way and likability.
His Offscreen Persona
He embodies some of our most rigidly masculine cinematic tropes — the badass action hero, the unstoppable cop, the martial arts master, the guy who levels up to save the world and rescue the girl — can also be a gentle, soft-spoken, wholesome guy who avoids all those tropes.
Reeves has made an impact in nearly every film genre — and most of that work has earned him progressively more endearing as a talented, relatable, fun, even wholesome celebrity.
With All That Being Said
All of this only confirms to us that it’s not just Keanu’s roles that have made him into 2019’s unexpected breakout healthy star: It’s also his offscreen persona. Keanu seems to be symbolic of our new interest in reevaluating and reassessing what we value most in our most beloved actors.
Reeves’s generosity was perhaps the most important factor in why people adore him so much, with news of him taking pay cuts and funding production budgets. And yet, there are still many who bemoaned the fact that Grant’s age had come into the equation at all.