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The new Blake Lively v. shark film, The Shallows, did pretty well in theaters this past weekend. Not as well as fellow sea life film Finding Dory, but not too shabby with $16.7 million. Especially for a movie that is just Lively wearing a bikini on a rock in the ocean and trying to outsmart a shark. It’s the pure definition of a thriller.
And Lively loves a thriller, as her work in movies such as The Town and Savages prove. She’s also checked superhero movie off her bucket list with Green Lantern and drama/romance with The Age of Adaline and of course, Gossip Girl. But there’s a genre that is very much missing from her resume and that is comedy. Now, she had Accepted ten years ago, as well as 2 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies which had their funny moments. But why is Lively largely avoiding comedies?
One could argue that Gossip Girl had its humorous moments but those were mostly handed to Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf or even Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass. Lively’s Serena van der Woodsen was as dramatic as they come. It would be one thing if Lively just stuck to what she was good at with the dramas, but she’s great at comedy too, as her 2009 SNL hosting gig exhibited.
Her appearance was surprisingly great, in a way where you had to ask yourself, “Did I just have low expectations for this dramatic actress to be funny, or is she actually genuinely funny?” As hard as it is to admit it, God is guilty of giving with both hands in her case. Yes, she is that gorgeous and that funny at the same time — this is sometimes referred to as “Chris Hemsworth Syndrome”. He’s an actor Lively should take a note or two from, as he’s proved he can nail drama, superhero and also comedy with scene-stealing roles in last summer’s Vacation and this summer’s Ghostbusters. That could be you, Blake!
She’s got a natural air of confidence (duh, wouldn’t we all if we were her) that could carry her into some really funny, even self-deprecating roles. She shows this off during late night appearances, such as this one from last week with Seth Meyers, where they joke about if The Shallows were a rom com.
So why has it been over a decade since Blake has gone anywhere near a comedy? Does Hollywood not understand how funny she can be? Does she not know Paul Feig? Or does her husband Ryan Reynolds insist on being the funny one in the family? That could be it…
This is a message for Blake, for directors, and probably for Ryan Reynolds too: someone get her in a comedy ASAP. She can wear a bikini or a ball gown, whatever she prefers, but it’s time for her to show off the comedy chops now. A lot of people underestimate her acting ability as a whole, which is certainly not always deserved. Come on, do you think it’s easy to have to pretend to choose between Penn Badgley and Chace Crawford? For some reason, Blake is keeping her humorous side as a secret talent from the world, but we’re ready, Blake. Bring on the funny, girl!
