Man Crush: Why everybody absolutely bloody loves Ryan Reynolds

Long before he was Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, even before he was buried alive in Buried or battling grizzly hitmen in Smoking Aces, Ryan Reynolds was the guy who brought us Van Wilder and the TV movie version of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

A man with more range than a catapult, here's why the Canadian 39-year-old deserves his rightful place at the top of the Hollywood ladder - and why he'd be a great mate to have in real life. https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/728560127469625344

He's a better journalist than most journalists

Not many people know that Ryan Reynolds has his own YouTube account. He isn't even verified. He just posts random stuff about his role as Deadpool on there for the LULZ. Watching Ryan Reynolds getting interviewed is always entertaining because you never know when he'll flip the script. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqLVvj6Ks20

He's surprisingly self-aware:

When, somehow, a tweet by a random person who didn’t even tag him made its way to his screen, Ryan replied in a candid, honest and, some people might say, over-the-top way. But look at this glorious summary of the difference between himself and Ryan Gosling, star of The Notebook and Drive. The tweet, from a user named @stonedziti asked: "Is ryan gosling the one that was in the notebook? WHO IS RYAN REYNOLDS? I SWEAR I'VE NEVER SEEN A MOVIE WITH HIM YET HE'S SO FAMOUS"... https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/614066267020918784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

He views life as an "invaluable lesson":

A quick re-watch of 2001 college classic Van Wilder gives us a brief insight into the mind of the young Ryan Reynolds. Comedic, nonchalant but also deeply profound, some of the best moments in this film were ad-libbed by Reynolds himself. He once described tattoos as "bumper stickers for bodies". If that's not deep, I don't know what is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrDSwK-e9VQ

He's an awesome dad

You would never date his daughter though. https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/632887900376539136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/721339581224861696 https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/727485527952379904 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wXjs6DXoeY

He cannot be beaten in a staring contest

Trying to psych out someone who has spent their entire life looking cool, calm and collected isn't easy. It's exactly what YouTuber turned celebrity FIFA player KSI tried to do to Reynolds at a Deadpool junket this year. He wasn't expecting the most intense stare-off of his life to ensue. Seriously, who can keep their eyes open for this long without blinking? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr5z8YSIJds

He loves to make fun of himself:

Most people only find out they've been ripped by Seth MacFarlane after it happens. Not Ryan. He was invited to voice an eccentric version of himself on Family Guy and actually did a better job than any other actor could have. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKWQHqCaRiw Being able to laugh at himself like that shows he's really comfortable in his own skin. On that note, Ryan Reynolds' impression of Ryan Reynolds is probably the best there is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POR-yZ1NbEw

He's insanely honest:

Not that Ryan Reynolds has a lot to be ashamed of, but where he is at fault, he'll always admit it. For example, in a 2012 episode of Top Gear he shamelessly admitted that he can't actually drive a car very well. He's genuinely so honest that when it came to filming the 'Honest Trailer' for Deadpool, he had to pop in and make a small cameo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uty3p7JGwbo

He's actually claustrophobic

Reynolds said that he suffered from claustrophobia prior to making Buried, in which his character is trapped in a coffin for the whole movie. The coffin he shot in was gradually filled with more sand as filming progressed. He describes the last day of shooting on set as "unlike anything I experienced in my life, and I never ever want to experience that again." Talk about facing your fears, though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRQ0oqFBoP4

Big balls, bigger heart

Anyone who witnessed Ryan's touching tribute to Connor McGrath, a 13-year-old long suffering cancer patient and fan who recently passed away will know how committed he is to the people who put him where he is. His love for his fans extends further than just marketing, often spending days on end lending his the to the the Make-A-Wish Foundation for dying children.

He's a lover of freedom* (*to drink beer while watching movies):

https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/724190356917641217 He then made a donation to the cinema in question to help pay its fine. Ryan Reynolds: a good egg. https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/727984848573444096 And so polite. https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/731491804449771521 *This article first appeared on JOE.co.uk*