Jake Gyllenhaal On Watching Ryan Reynolds Grow Up

Although you might not see Jake Gyllenhaal throw on a Deadpool-style mask anytime soon (hey, you never know...), he and his Life co-star Ryan Reynolds actually have a lot in common. For one, they're both talented actors who've been in the business since the early '90s; for another, they both zip back and forth between genres, taking on dark dramas, lighthearted comedies, and everything in between. So it makes sense, then, that the duo would become pals during their time filming Life, and when I speak to Gyllenhaal a few days before the Life premiere, it's clear that when it comes to his co-star, he has nothing but praise.

"I’ve seen him evolve and progress into himself and turn into a grown-up, not only in his life but also in his work," Gyllenhaal says of Reynolds. "I think he is one of the smartest, funniest people I’ve worked with. As a human, I think he is just a gentleman... he is good to others, and is a good father, and is a good husband. I admire him for that."

And as an actor, Reynolds is just as impressive, according to Gyllenhaal. "He really always brings great energy on set. People look forward to him being there," Gyllenhaal says. "And in the work itself, he is not afraid... something like Deadpool, for instance, could be an easily dismissed performance because of its popularity, but I think that performance is extraordinary and I don’t think anyone could do it but him."

Clearly, Reynolds and Gyllenhaal are fond of each other, to say the least. And to hear them talk about each other, you'd think the duo have been friends for years. On Good Morning America recently, Reynolds gushed over his fellow actor, calling Gyllenhaal "one of the kindest guys I’ve ever met" and praising everything from his acting talents to his cooking skills.

With that kind of affection for one another, it's a shame that the two don't get much of a chance to bond in Life, a sci-fi thriller about an alien life-form gone rogue. Instead, their characters engage in a tense battle, alongside their fellow astronauts, to keep the life-form under control and figure out what, exactly, it's capable of doing. It's a scary premise, and a nail-biting ride — but thankfully, audiences can relax knowing that while the characters may fight over their mission, Gyllenhaal and Reynolds in real life are as cool with one another as can be.