Hollywood Gives Up: Keanu Reeves to Play Dr. Jeckyl/Mr. Hyde
This story is based on true events.
DATELINE: Hollywood.
In an expansive conference room, casting agents sift through a flotilla of headshots and resumés, sweat beading on their foreheads, every brain working feverishly, empty bottles of sparkling spring water piled in the corners and on the center of the table.
"He's got to have range," mutters one, for the 20th time that night.
“He’s got to be dynamic,” says another as she pushes a stack of headshots away in disgust.
“Literary, intelligent, yet capable of great savagery. A terrifying genius.” This from the oldest among them, the acknowledged master of the art of casting. He flips through the script again, searching for inspiration that will not come. The cover page reads Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
“Dammit!” shouts one of the agents. “We’re trying to cast a role played by Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Jack Palance, John Barrymore! Who in Hollywood can possibly live up to such performances?”
“I’ve got it!” says the old man. The others turn to him with mooning faces, ready to kneel at the altar of his wisdom. “I’ve got it,” he repeats like a mantra. And, with a suitable pause for effect…
“Keanu. Fucking. Reeves.”
The announcement stuns the room. Collective gasps are enjoyed by all, and a deep silence falls over the table. Finally:
“But…what? Keanu…uh…”
“I think you’re thinking of Christopher Reeves,” says an intern sheepishly. “And he died, sir.”
The old man grumbles from deep inside his chest. “I know that, you idiot! Who do you think delivered the eulogy?! I said Keanu Reeves and I meant Keanu Reeves!”
The other agents all suck air through their back molars simultaneously. One of them mouths the word “awkward.”
“He’s got to have range,” mutters someone, for the 21st time that night.
“No, right, I know,” explains the elder. “I was giving up.”
Relief washes over them. “Oh! OK. Then… strippers and hookah?”
“Natch.”
And with that, an instant film classic is born.
Yes, you read that thrilling dramatization right: The man whose range is so limited that 90 percent of the characters he plays could shop at the same black trenchcoat store has been earmarked to play a both sides of a split personality.
It's an onscreen interaction that I'm betting will be a little less Smeagle/Gollum and a little more Neo/Neo with angry eyebrows drawn on. In fact, I think it’s safe to assume that the only personality combinations he can realistically bring to the role are:
I’m hoping he goes with the first one, so we can watch Dr. Jekyll wage a grim fight against Mr. Hyde’s quest to invent Cheetos, thrash on the 19th century equivalent of an electric bass (which I believe would be the steam-bassoon) and hassle Tchaikovsky. Plus the constant switch between a black duster and bright neon shorts is probably the only way the audience will know which character he’s supposed to be playing at any given time. Keanu, if you’re reading this, don’t panic. I’ve got some simple, quick fixes that will help you give the impression of being able to play two whole characters, without actually going to all the fuss of doing so.
- Stoic savior of the human race/Retarded 80s stoner
- Retarded 80s stoner/Unbelievable romantic lead
- Unbelievable romantic lead/Stoic savior of the human race
First, try some thick accents. No one’s going to confuse your Jekyll and Hyde if Jekyll introduces himself as a “man uh da sciences, eh?” and Hyde vows to “shtop at nosink!” Yes, it’s borderline racist, but if you settle for your usual caliber of performance, you risk offending facial paralysis victims everywhere.
If that doesn’t do the trick, give Hyde a thin black mustache. It’ll make him seem a lot more evil, and it’s easier to explain how a man can grow and ungrow facial hair throughout a movie than to explain how in the hell the producers thought you were a good choice for this role.
Of course, there’s also the “method” route. “Method” is a fancy actor word for actually doing whatever your character is supposed to do. So if you’re playing a crackhead, smoke some crack. It’s like cheating for actors. I guess what I’m saying is that you should try to invent a serum that turns you into a monster. Difficult, yes, but much easier than… well, you know.
And if all else fails, there’s always subtitles.
Oh and hey, Keanu, while I’ve got your attention:
SPIKE?! You’re playing fucking When not writing less and less frequently for Cracked, Michael is working on a number of all-consuming secret projects, so please stop messaging him and calling him lazy, you fuckers. Also, Those Aren't Muskets!
