Keanu Reeves: The One and Only goes beyond the surface, not just glorifying the actor, but rather the individual whose existence has made a difference in millions of lives around the world. The film itself shows the journey of Keanu – from his modest life in Beirut to his childhood spent in Canada. It also depicts the struggle he went through while trying to establish himself as an actor in the Hollywood film industry. Combining archival material with autobiography features in the narrative style of the film, the audience sees firsthand, the crucial events that Khalo Rena was involved in which included his defining role as Ted in ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ and then the rest of his career starring in Hollywood action blockbusters such as Speed, The Matrix, John Wick and many more.
This is what makes the documentary unique – preserving the rawness and honesty that’s explored throughout the film. It conceptualizes the broader sense of loss and mourning, following the death of his close friend River Phoenix and former partner Jennifer Syme’s daughter. However, suffering from these immense losses was enough for the movie to praise and showcase, Reeve’s – quiet, loving tenderness, still standing. Co-stars and collaborators tell tales of him not wanting to be paid more than what his fellow cast and crew were being paid, or simply not wanting the extra attention from fans and being that approachable person.
The physicality of every role that Keanu plays is profound whether it is rather speaking or acting and many film industry figures such as Sandra Sheppard, Chad stahelski, Winona Ryder, and Francis Ford Coppola thank him for it. In spite of the whole physicality, he is somehow managed to pass across his own essence every time he has played fictional characters according to the directors who have worked with him. For instance, he has been a lovestruck lawyer in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, a cyber-punk in The Matrix, a vengeful hitman in John Wick, and many others.
Apart from on-stage roles, the documentary does not miss out after stage roles such as the off stage actor co founding the company Arch Motorcycles to fulfill his passion of winning big in the motorcycle industry. Due to these journeys, smoothening it all down was Reeves’ passion for ‘life and death’ which as a topic stemmed from riding motorbikes along the California coastline to attending and genuinely thanking fans across the globe.
The One and Only Keanu Reeves is a tribute of the actor’s life history and his relevance in today’s modern society. The film examines how he has been able to connect through several decades, and doesn’t even have to change his true self. This isn’t just a portrait of a star—it’s a meditation on kindness, humility, and the power of perseverance. For Keanu fans, it is imperative to remember that greatness is not confined to the stage, but rather devoted to the quotidian life and act that the person performs, which in turn, has an impact on its surrounding.
Get ready for a heartwarming and emotionally appealing trip, actually an adventure, which will make you see the man who is simply, The One and Only in a different eye.
