Keanu Reeves Hilariously Parodied Himself in This Film

Again in 2005, Keanu Reeves slyly delivered one of the vital pleasant and neglected performances of his profession for the dramedy Thumbsucker. In Mike Mills’ coming-of-age image, Reeves channels the earlier 20 years of his profession—in addition to his public persona—to wade within the waters of self-parody. Thumbsucker finds him within the function of Dr. Perry Lyman, a spacey New Age orthodontist who makes use of some untraditional philosophies to assist a teenage boy (Lou Taylor Pucci) overcome his thumb-sucking behavior.

Keanu Reeves is a type of actors that’s so usually been in memorable roles for the reason that starting of his profession that it’s almost unattainable to not be a fan of the man. By the point Thumbsucker got here round, he’d already made a family identify for himself, having proven up in miserable, existential teenage dramas (River’s Edge), dopey comedies (Invoice & Ted’s Wonderful Journey), and high-caliber motion footage (Velocity, The Matrix, the checklist goes on). Much more than that, although, is the person himself: a lovable, humble, and infrequently endearingly eccentric determine who’s as charming to be careful of character as he’s whereas deep in a task. Thumbsucker takes benefit of this, giving Reeves a swing at a tongue-in-cheek bit that feels reflective and, in fact, deeply Reevesian.

In ‘Thumbsucker,’ Keanu Reeves’ Position Parodies the Actual-Life Actor

Reeves’ small-but-vital function in Thumbsucker is one which works on a number of ranges. For one, the character is lovable as hell. He’s soft-spoken, in contact together with his spirituality, and he typically takes to muttering philosophical musings. He competes in bicycle races and working 6ks. He loves seeing his sufferers, and when he greets them, it sounds solely honest. “To what do I deserve this honor?” he says, adorably, to Justin (Pucci) when the boy unexpectedly exhibits up at his workplace. It sounds precisely like one thing you’d hear Reeves hear in a candid, off-the-cuff assembly with a fan.

On one other degree, although, Reeves’ look in Thumbsucker works so properly due to how completely the function suits the actor. It’s like a go well with tailor-made only for him. Dr. Lyman looks like an alternate universe Reeves, one which, if this entire film star enterprise didn’t work out, you may discover in some orthodontics workplace in a Portland suburb. Thumbsucker, Mike Mills, and Reeves all know this. They’re aware of the putting parallels between the actor and the topic, they usually lean into the stereotypical picture Reeves had made for himself via the 90s and into the brand new millennium. The entire beforehand talked about traits of Dr. Lyman can primarily be mentioned of Reeves—commerce marathoning in for jiu jitsu, and also you’ve obtained it nailed.

Wanting on reflection additionally lends authority to the function. Lyman drops pearls of knowledge all through the film in his typical laid again supply that’s 100% real-life Keanu Reeves. Close to the tip of the movie, Lyman displays on a current change of philosophy: “the trick…resides with out a solution,” he says. “…I believe,” he provides, with impeccable comedian timing. In recent times the web has turn into stuffed with clips of the beloved actor primarily doing the identical in interviews. Simply watch him speak to Stephen Colbert about what occurs after dying. Or to Drew Barrymore as regards to love. He’s considerate and well-spoken, however he’s self-aware, and he doesn’t take himself too critically.

Lyman spends his screentime doing unusual and eccentric issues. He talks of spirit animals, and helps Justin discover his throughout an impromptu hypnosis session. In an try to assist Justin cease his ordinary thumbsucking, Lyman hypnotizes the boy into pondering his thumb tastes like Echinacea. The orthodontic appointments in Lyman’s workplace are soundtracked by overhead audio system enjoying dashing water sounds, flutes, and the sort of ambient music you’d hear at an opulent spa or on a 3-hour meditation Youtube playlist. His receptionist refers to him on an off-the-cuff, first identify foundation (“Perry is prepared for you,” he tells Justin) in a approach that recollects Keanu Reeves’ personal humility. All of it works as a result of it makes for a lovable character, however it works even higher as a result of it exhibits one among fashionable cinema’s most iconic performers having a blast poking enjoyable at himself.

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Amongst a Star-Studded Solid, Keanu Reeves Is ‘Thumbsucker’s Greatest Asset

Maybe Thumbscrews’ best flaw is the infrequency with which Keanu Reeves exhibits up. Like several of the best little indie sleeper hits, Thumbsucker has a stacked forged checklist of stars enjoying quirky components: Tilda Swinton extracts a uncooked vulnerability from the function of Justin’s mom—”Audrey”—a daydreaming nurse with an obsession with a preferred tv actor. Vincent D’Onofrio steps in as an emotionally-distant however well-intended father determine who insists on his youngsters calling him by his first identify as a result of the phrase dad makes him really feel outdated. Even Vince Vaughan exhibits up as an all-business-no-fun coach of Justin’s debate crew. It is Reeves, although, that shines brightest, and by the point the credit roll, it is unlikely that you just will not be wishing for extra Dr. Lyman.

For a movie centered round (and titled after) a teenage protagonist, lots of time is spent with the adults, who’re as essential to the story because the boy himself. Justin’s dad and mom replicate Justin’s use of thumbsucking as a coping mechanism via their very own units to cope with their feelings: Audrey via her perpetual fantasies of assembly her crush and Mike via his damaged goals of athleticism. Lyman, alternatively, is a kind of New Age sage that provides his cryptic knowledge to Justin whereas seemingly having his personal life discovered. He shrugs off Justin’s behavior as one thing that is undeservedly taboo: it is merely a psychological substitute for the mammalian have to be breastfed throughout infancy. By the film’s finish, he finds that even he, to a point, had all of it incorrect. He does not know who he was attempting to be, and that is okay.

Oddball films like Thumbsucker work greatest when the dialogue is tight and the lead actors play characters that virtually leap off the display screen. This film is stuffed with them, however it’s Reeves—and Dr. Lyman—who’re the movie’s best asset. Watching Thumbsucker in a post-John Wick world, whereas Reeves resides the lavish lifetime of being a universally beloved determine, offers the film some further appeal. Now that we have got a lot extra meme-able Keanu Reeves moments to comb via on-line, we are able to see that he was, and is, in on the joke, and he is fairly goddamn respectable for that.