Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock co-starred in the 1994 hit filmSpeedand wouldn’t reunite on-screen until 12 years later.Speedstars Reeves as an LAPD officer working with a passenger, played by Bullock, to stop a bus rigged to explode if it goes below 50 mph. ThoughSpeed’sbomb logisticsdon’t hold up, and the plot itself is outlandish, the film has remained iconic and relevantthree decades later. The movie was also a financial success, grossing $350.4 million on a $30 million budget.
AlthoughSpeedwas acareer-defining role for Reeves, he did not return for the sequel,Speed 2, in 1997. The follow-up suffered critically and at the box office for many reasons, including the missingchemistry between Bullock and Reeves' replacement, Jason Patric.Speedwas not the last time the two actors had an on-screen romance, however. They reunited 12 years later on the big screen, but their subsequent project is no match for their original appearance in the now-classic film.
The Lake House Marked Keanu Reeves & Sandra Bullock’s Reunion After Speed
The Two Reunite As On-Screen Lovers
Reeves and Bullock reunited in the 2006 paranormal romance filmThe Lake House. In the movie, Bullock plays a doctor writing letters to an architect (Reeves) who lives in the same house but two years in the past. Their relationship develops through the letters as they finally feel seen by another person. However, they ultimately and dramatically struggle to bypass the time jump so they can meet in person. ThoughReeves and Bullock spend much ofThe Lake Houseapart, they are eventually able to satisfy the audiences' need to see them reunite.
Even almost 20 years later,The Lake Housebeing Reeves and Bullock’s reunion remains a notable aspect of the film. Although the movie has a drastically different tone thanSpeed, shifting from action to romantic drama with a fantasy twist, fans of the actors were excited to see another love story between the actors. 12 years after their first romantic connection,the chemistry between Reeves and Bullock was still evident. It even became one of Reeves' most famous romance films, thoughBullock starred in many other rom-coms.
How The Lake House Was Received By Critics & Audiences
Audiences Liked The Film, While Critics Did Not
Despite being fronted by two A-listers,The Lake Housepremiered to mixed reviews. As with many ghost and time-jumping films, a main critique is that the plot became convoluted. This made it lose some of the sweeping romance it aimed for because Bullock and Reeves don’t get to spend much time in the same scenes. Part ofThe Lake House’s allure was that it was going to be the reunion of the two stars, satisfying the need to see their on-screen romance play out. The film did succeed at the box office, however, making $114.8 million on a $40 million budget.
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Critical reviews ofThe Lake House rank low, at a mere 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, largely due to the complexities of the plot. However, audiences find it more favorable, giving it a 73% score and applauding the actors' emotional depth. Some even find the intricacies of the plot worthy of a rewatch. The film serves its purpose as a romance movie, withThe Late Housetelling a meaningful love story that spans an unusual timeline. Reeves and Bullock’s reunion was so highly anticipated that it won the “Choice Liplock” award at the 2006 Teen Choice Awards.
Speed Remains One Of The Best Films In Bullock & Reeves' Careers 30 Years Later
Any Additional Film Starring The Pair Will Have Big Shoes To Fill
Despite being a box-office success,The Lake Housenever gained the same popularity as Bullock and Reeves' original team-up.Speedwas able to capitalize on the summer box office, becoming a blockbuster that stayed in theaters for months. Even though both actors went on to star in other franchises and genres, the action thriller remains a standout on both of their resumes. They proved their acting skills by selling the over-the-top premise and playing well off each other’s characters. Their roles inSpeedhelped establish their careers and the types of characters they would play in the future.
The Lake Houseis not currently streaming but is available to rent online.Speedis available to stream on Starz.
Although these two films were the only times Bullock and Reeves starred on screen together, a highly anticipated future film and reunion might be in the works. Both stars have expressed interest inreturning forSpeed 3. An official sequel has not yet been announced, but fans of the original film and the actors have waited 30 years for a new film toredeem the failures ofSpeed 2and reunite Bullock and Reeves' characters. Although, as seen withThe Lake House, any new film would find it hard to top the duo’s original on-screen appearance inSpeed.
Speed
Cast
In Jan de Bont’s 1994 action thriller Speed, LAPD officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) works alongside passenger Annie (Sandra Bullock) to safely stop a bus that will explode if it goes below 50 mph.
