In honor of Cheer Up Keanu Day, here are seven reasons we're grateful for Keanu Reeves

keanu-reeves-sadYesterday was Flag Day, the one day of the year dedicated to Americans celebrating their national colors, but today, June 15, is actually a much more important holiday: Cheer Up Keanu Day. After a paparazzi image of a forlorn-looking Keanu Reeves sitting on a bench and eating lunch made its circuit through the magically arbitrary world of Internet Meme-land, someone started up a Facebook event called “Cheer Up Keanu Day,” urging fans of the actor to send him “letters, emails, gifts, and any other niceties and kind words” to let him know just how much he means to them. As of this post, there are over 14,000 confirmed participants. In the succinct words of Keanu, “Whoa.”

The star of such classics as Johnny Mnemonic and Chain Reaction is an easy target for cynical Internet snark-peddlers. (In fact, my not-particularly-clever reference to him as “the star of such classics as Johnny Mnemonic and Chain Reaction” is a perfect example.) That’s what makes this groundswell of support so endearing: The idea that we as a virtual world can take a day to earnestly praise what we would usually scoff. So, in the spirit of the holiday, I’d like to take this opportunity to enumerate the reasons I appreciate Keanu:

1. He is often front-and-center in movies of such pure testosteroned awesomeness they threaten to burn out your eyeballs. Examples: Point Break, Speed, The Matrix.

2. He regularly donates to cancer research funds, and even reportedly gave millions of his own earnings to the behind-the-scenes crew of The Matrix.

3. Reeves is really good in My Own Private Idaho.

4. I used to watch his version of Babes in Toyland all the time as a kid.

5. Wyld Stallyns!!!!

6. Can you honestly imagine anyone else as Neo?

7. He never comes across as anything but a nice guy who does what he enjoys, has gotten to work with some amazing directors (Gus Van Sant, Francis Ford Coppola, Kathryn Bigelow, Richard Linklater) and rightly feels no need to apologize for it.

So, cheer up, Keanu. Just be glad you’re you. We are. What about you, PopWatchers? What are you grateful for in the Keanu canon?


Comments (73 total) Add your comment
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  • Ceballos

    I enjoy Keanu Reeves.

    I know people take shots at his often blank-faced/stilted acting style, but I think he’s been pretty smart about picking his roles. (For example, I think that style suited “The Matrix” really well.)

    As for his other roles. “The Devil’s Advocate” (and his admittedly questionable Gainesville accent) is a guilty pleasure of mine. Also, he was legitimately good (and scary) in “The Gift.”

    • googoo

      His character was scary as hell and kind of pathetic as a wrongly accused man.

  • helen

    Now what makes you feel he’s all down and sad. Looks like any other normal guy, sittin’ on bench, contemplating existence and munchin’ on a sandwich.

    Wanna cheer him up, go over and strike up a convo.

    • Via

      Strike up a convo with a stranger? Is that allowed in 2010? I thought we were only permitted to converse via electronic devices.
      That doesn’t sound right; I’m going to go ask my twitter followers what they think about this.

  • yahdeeblah

    I think a lot of people listen to his surfer dude accent and assume his intellect is lacking. However, if you actually listen to what the man says in his interviews I think you’ll find he’s actually one of the more intelligent leading men in Hollywood.

    • Heidi

      absolutely. He’s often reading and is that classic, solitary man who does not want to pimp for the press. He acts for the joy of acting and only does things that interest him. He’s been a kind brother to his sisters as well, especially to his sister who has struggled with cancer. I think its great he has been able to carve out a relatively normal life with only close friends and family rather than ‘hangers on’. More people should follow his lead!

    • angeler

      quite true, I’ve always been impressed with his interviews. He’s also had a fair share of personal tragedies, and hasn’t responded in the typical Hollywood style (overdose, drunk on camera, getting married 4 times, etc etc). Just seems like a good dude.

  • avenger

    Awwwww, I love you Keanu. Cheer up man, for the guy who has given us years of kicka** roles and hours of entertainment. I used to have the biggest crush on him when I was a teenager. He always seemed like such a nice guy, a good actor (no matter what people have said its not easy to be a good action movie actor), and he’s cute :) Cheer up kid!

  • Dan

    Keanu is literally the nicest guy in Hollywood. He’s been through some real crap in his personal life, and still goes out of his way to make sure everyone around him is happy. I saw him eating at an outdoor cafe in NYC and he chatted and posed for photos with everyone who came by.

  • george

    He’s rich, famous, and good looking. I’m the one who needs cheering up!

  • Amy

    Speed. One of my favorite action films of all time.

    Also, it’s totally cheesy, but I liked The Lake House.

    • boredinbklyn

      LOVE the Lake House. I used to watch it every time it came on cable. Especially the scene where the meet at the party

      • chris

        what about “A walk in the clouds”?

  • Cooley Horner

    He knows kung fu!!

  • T

    Wyld Stallyns Rules!!

  • lettergirl

    awwww….i want to give him a hug…and maybe a pickle to eat with his sammich.

  • Mandy

    He has had a rough life, but is still a good person. He doesn’t seem to buy into all that paparazzi, red-carpet crap and just loves his job. He is a good actor and seems like a genuinly good person.

  • emily

    another reason: his first tv movie “The Brotherhood of Justice” was amazing!

  • nick

    keanu is literally one of my favorite actors. not for his ability to transform into a character like dicaprio or the late heath ledger (which he doesn’t have any of), but more for his unique ability to bring a smile to my face whenever he enters a scene with his laid back attitude. there’s just something about him that i love. i can’t imagine a world without keanu reeves he’s simply amazing!

  • Ky

    He’s talented, genuine and obviously has a lot of fans. Turn that frown upside down, Keanu!!!

  • lalala

    He may not be the best actor, but I think he is really a decent and nice guy, especially with all the bad stuff that happened in his life. I love that he is protective of his sister. Also, he and Sandra Bullock were especially comical together and had great chemistry during the promotions for The Lake House – they should consider doing something fun together like a romantic comedy.

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