Spencer Pratt Responds to Ryan Reynolds’ Critique of 1980s Nostalgia

Former reality TV personality and California politician Spencer Pratt responded sharply on Friday to actor Ryan Reynolds’ condemnation of nostalgia for the 1980s. Reynolds faced criticism after calling the 1980s “brutal” and “a f—ing mess” while promoting his film “Mayday” at its New York premiere.

Reynolds drew attention for this characterization, given the contrast with the nostalgia-driven theme of his new movie. In an interview with Variety, Reynolds commented, “When you get far enough away from a time period that’s quite distinct, there’s always a lovely feeling associated with it, almost like you pave over all the trauma with puppy dogs and ice cream. The 80s was a brutal, brutal time for people. It was a f—ing mess and people forget that.”

In contrast, Pratt argued that the 1980s represented a time of cultural sanity compared to today. He suggested that the decade had defined ideals of good and evil.

“Ryan Reynolds’ view of the 80s is the inverse of what normal people think. In 80s movies, bad guys were villains. Today, the bad guys are the heroes. Hollywood now bends over backwards to redeem wickedness and mental illness,” Pratt stated on the platform X. “Top Gun and St Thomas of Cruise represent the hero generation of cinema. Reynolds represents the anti-hero generation, and they are both byproducts of their own creations. Choose your path carefully, young man.”

Reynolds has gained recognition for playing the Marvel superhero/anti-hero Deadpool, known for being a wisecracking mercenary who breaks the fourth wall and contrasts with traditional superhero archetypes.

Pratt’s tweet carried an excerpt from a video where he discussed far-left politics among women, the “hijacking of the maternal instinct,” and the cultural shift from classic heroes to anti-heroes and villains.

Film critic Christian Toto weighed in, noting Pratt’s response signifies a significant cultural divide. “Spencer Pratt’s hot take suggests a sobering reality. Has pop culture’s infatuation with anti-heroes had real-world implications?” Toto questioned.

He highlighted recent films where villains are depicted as quasi-heroes, such as “Bullet Train,” “Hit Man,” and the “John Wick” series. Toto also pointed out indie films like “Emily the Criminal” and “Carolina Caroline” that portray villains in sympathetic roles.

Toto noted that while the 1980s included serious issues such as the AIDS crisis, nuclear war fears, and the Challenger disaster, the era also offered pop culture classics without today’s cultural hand-wringing.

Theo Wold, former assistant attorney general and former White House deputy assistant under President Trump, provided a political perspective. “Ryan Reynolds forgot to do some thinking before he took a talking point from his celebrity cocktail hours,” he remarked.

He added that for many, the 1980s were marked by greater social cohesion and individual freedoms than today, along with relative economic prosperity. Wold noted Reynolds’ Canadian upbringing might have influenced his view.