Ryan Reynolds Finds Unexpected Joy in Blake Lively’s Green Lantern Setback

Ryan Reynolds has never shied away from acknowledging the less-than-stellar reception of Green Lantern, a film that saw both him and Blake Lively in leading roles. While the 2011 DC adaptation is often remembered for its critical and commercial shortcomings, Reynolds has recently expressed a rather touching reason for holding the project in high regard.

Family Ties and a Notorious Flop

During a recent appearance at The Wall Street Journal’s CMO Council Summit, Reynolds spoke candidly about his son Olin’s affection for Green Lantern. Despite the film’s reputation as a box office disappointment, he shared,

You laugh, but my son, it’s his favourite film, and he watches it every f—ing day. Do you understand the work I’ve had to do to get to the place where I can just pass by that screen and not go, ‘Well, we could have [done that differently]?’

For those unfamiliar, Green Lantern was widely panned by critics, earning a mere 25% on the Tomatometer and 45% on the Popcornmeter, with an IMDb score of 5.5 out of 10. The film, produced on a $200 million budget, managed to scrape together $219.5 million worldwide, making it one of the least lucrative ventures for both Lively and Reynolds. Yet, the set of this much-maligned film was also where the couple’s romance began, adding a personal silver lining to its legacy.

Growth, Reflection, and Lessons for the Next Generation

Reynolds admits that revisiting Green Lantern offers him more than just a chance to cringe at his earlier work. It also serves as a reminder of his professional journey. He reflected,

That was a time in my life when I was, ‘Yes, sir. No, sir. How high can I jump, sir?’

He’s keen to ensure his children understand that success is often built on a foundation of setbacks.

My kids, all they see is a winner. When I go outside, I get pats on the back and it’s a selfie parade, and I oblige everyone pretty much. My kids only see that. So, I’ve learned lately to make sure [I am] talking about the failures and how that is literally the base and ingredient for everything else.

Besides Olin, Reynolds and Lively are parents to three daughters: James, Inez, and Betty.

Parenting Challenges and a Bit of Competition

Reynolds has also spoken about the unique challenges of raising a son after three daughters. On Late Night with Seth Meyers, he joked about the dynamic in his household,

Three girls—just so easy. And then the boy, who’s got to break everything. I’m, like, in direct competition with this young man.

He went on to quip,

There’s no way. I would give myself a punching vasectomy. There’s no way I would allow that to happen.

His remarks, as ever, sparked a mix of amusement and mild controversy among fans, but Reynolds is well known for his irreverent sense of humour.

Green Lantern is currently available to stream on HBO Max.