Is It Time For The Guys’ Guys In Hollywood?
Since the launch of my debut novel, The Guys’ Guy’s Guide To Love, this past fall, there have been many questions from the press and reader about the notion of a “Guy’s Guy”. The plot revolves around one Max Hallyday, ad man and regular guy’s guy. His ex flame pushes him until he agrees to pen a column about the wily ways that modern men, and in particular his lady-killing best frenemy, Roger Fox, approach the opposite sex. It’s a fast-paced fun story…okay, I’ll stop selling now. The issue is, what exactly is a guy’s guy and has Hollywood kept pace with how modern men are evolving?
Just what is a Guy’s Guy?
Simply put, a Guy’s Guy is a more casual, contemporary version of a “man’s man”. You know those old school icons of strength, determination, and integrity like Kirk Douglas, John Wayne, Steve McQueen, Sean Connery, Charles Bronson, and the list goes on. These guys would all kick your ass unapologetically. A Guy’s Guy is less macho, more thoughtful, open and inclusive, and someone who would rather make you laugh than go to the mat with you. He accepts and appreciates the ascent of women in today’s society and sees that as an incredible opportunity to enhance his life and connect with the lovely felines purring and prowling the big city. A Guy’s Guy sees this as a ticket to his own personal Candy land. And he’s not looking to compete with women. He is a lover more than a fighter, although he will step up when necessary. All said, he is the type of dude that both men and women connect with and want to spend their time with.
Has hollywood embraced the Guys’ Guys?
Yes, and no. The industry will always embrace those commercially reliable, fresh-faced pretty boy crooners like…do I really have to mention J.B.? That is called commerce and the cycle will live on. But each decade seems to redefine the heroes of celluloid, so let’s have some fun and place a few of today’s stars in the GG column. Hey, maybe a few of them will read this and want to play Roger Fox in the film for GGG2Love?
So which hollywood hunks make the cut as Guys’ Guys?
The no-brainers are Ryan Gosling (rocked like a Roger Fox in Crazy Stupid Love), Bradley Cooper (looks good, acts real, can be dirty), Matthew McConaughey(he’s done this over and over), Vince Vaughn, Luke and Owen Wilson, Denzel Washington, Jeff Bridges (old school charm), Mark Wahlberg (Entourage is his baby), Isaiah Mustafa (the Old Spice guy), Matt Damon, John Hamm, Sam Worthington, George Clooney (smooth and affable), Chris Pine (up and coming), Jeremy Renner, Channing Tatum (he’s so straight), Will Smith, Jamie Fox, Gerald Butler, Daniel Craig (smolders as Bond and in Layer Cake). There are more, lots more. One thing they need to have is the possibility of a sense of humor versus being too “actor-y”.
The “maybes”, and these might be a stretch- Ryan Reynolds, Orlando Bloom, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Adrian Grenier, and all those guys in the Twilight movies. These guys are just so damn pretty, but I state that respectfully. Also on the bubble is the entire Judd Apatow troupe of funny men like Seth Rogan, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd and Jason Segal. They are all hilarious and they keep evolving. I could see them all on a romp in GGG2Love.
Hollywood hunks get ready. We will soon be casting our own roger fox. ashton, leo…do you have what it takes?
Guest Post from Chicklit Club
