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Four superhero rom-coms for date night
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Robert Downey Jr. is pictured as Iron Man. The rise of new heroes in movies and TV has created a wave of fans who only know the actors for the characters they have played recently. (Shutterstock/-)
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he rise of new heroes in movies and TV has created a wave of fans who only know the actors for the characters they have played recently. Therefore, we’re taking you on a journey to when superheroes were still in comic books and their present-day actors were heartthrobs stealing attention in romantic-comedy roles way before Iron Man, the Hulk, Ant-Man and Mr. Robot were born.
‘Only You’
Before he played a tech billionaire and donned the Iron Suit as the popular superhero Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. played a softly spoken romantic in the 1994 hit film Only You. In the movie, Marisa Tomei plays Faith Corvatch, a bride-to-be with cold feet who flees to Italy in search of her true love, Damon Bradley. Downey plays Peter Wright, a shoe salesman who poses as Bradley after he falls in love with Corvatch at first sight.
In 2016’s action hit Captain America: Civil War, Marisa Tomei makes a brief appearance as Spider-Man’s Aunt May, who flirts with Downey’s Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. Many believed it was a nod to their legendary 1994 Only You collaboration. Only You is now considered a classic romantic comedy.
‘13 Going On 30’
Dr. Bruce Banner is loved by many for his cool and calm demeanor, but is also adored for his gigantic superhero alter ego, The Hulk. While the Jekyll-and-Hyde-type superhero is the role people recognize the most, Mark Ruffalo’s versatility in the acting world is not to be ignored.
Back in 2004, he starred alongside Jennifer Garner in 13 Going On 30, a romantic comedy that tells the story of a 13 year-old who wishes to be 30. Ruffalo plays geeky Matt Flamhaff, who has a crush on his schoolmate Jenna Rink (Garner).
‘Clueless’
Before he played the genius Scott Lang and slightly annoying Ant-Man, Paul Rudd made a dazzling appearance in the 1995 teen flick Clueless. Rudd stars as Josh Lucas, an environmental science student who happens to be Cher Horowitz’s (Alicia Silverstone) ex-step brother and love interest.
Those who aren’t really into movies but are very into TV series may have caught Rudd’s appearance in the 1990s sitcom Friends where he plays Phoebe Buffay’s (Lisa Kudrow) boyfriend, Mike Hannigan. Rudd is also a camera darling who often appears on Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and other non-drama shows.
‘Bed of Roses’
Who knew that the underground activist Mr. Robot had such a “rosy” past? Back in 1996, Christian Slater played Lewis Farrell, a flower shop owner struggling to get over the death of his wife and child while at the same time falling in love with Lisa Walker, played by Mary Stuart Masterson.
Although Slater’s role in Bed of Roses is not comedic, the Mr. Robot star displayed a rare acting feat: being romantic and vulnerable, while and at the same time maintaining his manliness.
