Yes, Van Wilder is legit

Okay, I admit … I have a man-crush on Ryan Reynolds.

And it’s not because he’s so dreamy, although the wifey would endorse that. It’s actually attributed to a recent realization that this Canadian can actually act.

Yes, Van Wilder is legit. Well, at least by my account.

It actually happened quite innocently. I appreciate National Lampoon’s Van Wilder. I’ll watch it any time it comes on Comedy Central … a perfect three-hour vacation from a dreary non-football Sunday afternoon. It’s an addiction the wifey finds … well, she often runs way giving me much appreciated control of the remote.

Well, recently the wifey got us connected with Netflx via our Nintendo Wii. It’s been nice - ahem financially justified - to see our Wii actually getting some action. Anyhow, this new guilty pleasure has allowed me to capture some movies I never knew existed, let alone ever thought to watch via the Independent Movies selection on Netflix.

First in the dock, Chaos Theory. Filmed in 2008, I never heard of it. I was intrigued by the interesting plot involving Reynolds’s character, a professional time management speaker who has his life turned upside down when his wife decides to turn his alarm clock back 10 minutes.

Having OCD tendencies and living in the comfort of routine and schedules, I was drawn. I left fulfilled. Reynolds pulled it off, and this was by no means a fraternity-hyped comedy. High five!

Next came The Nines. Filmed in 2007, again a movie I never knew existed. This took a little longer to pull the Wii controller trigger. I waited about two weeks. Why … well, the short movie description itself forecasted a weird, awkward movie. It didn’t disappoint and neither did Reynolds.

Under house arrest, Reynolds character becomes convinced he is haunted by the number nine. The movie splits into four small movies, each with the same four people playing four different characters. In the end, all four movies tie into to each other, pretty cool. The reason … Reynolds. Again not even close to being a comedy, Reynolds was very convincing in all four of his roles.

An added bonus for Reynolds … he lassoed grunge wench Alanis Morrissette and most recently nestled nicely with Scarlett Johansson. That duo in itself deserves cool points. Oh, don’t worry Ryan, I’ll forgive you for Green Lantern.

- Jaime North