A comprehensive look at John Krasinski’s rom-com career

When I was 13 years old, I witnessed a perfect fusion of romance and comedy in The Office‘s Season 2 finale, “Casino Night.”

I spent the first 24 minutes of the episode laughing at jokes and marveling over workplace shenanigans. Then, the last four minutes consisted of me holding my breath, wiping away tears, and screaming at the TV in unbridled joy. Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) finally told Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) he was in love with her, the two shared a life-altering kiss, and I felt like I’d just watched one of the greatest rom-coms of all time.

Two seasons of Jim’s pranks, snappy one-liners, and perfectly-timed looks to camera let everyone know that Krasinski could do comedy. But “Casino Night” convinced the world he was capable of so much more. He wasn’t just a cute office clown. He could deliver in the romance department.

The 2006 episode was written by the talented Steve Carell, so of course, it was going to be good. But Krasinski’s “I’m in love with you” delivery is what left so many viewers enamored. The way he tilted his head to challenge Pam after she asked, “What are you doing?” Immaculate. The way his eyes shifted to the side in avoidance and down in defeat? Masterful. The sight of his jaw visibly pulsating as he tried to maintain composure and the left corner of his mouth curling upward between the words “I just needed you to know” and “once?” Is anyone else sweating?

Krasinski’s portrayal of Jim Halpert proved that the man was born to steal hearts on screen, which is why it’s a crime that his career doesn’t include more romantic comedies. 

A little-known fact, or rather a little-remembered fact, is that Krasinski is in one of the best rom-coms of the 21st century: the 2006 Nancy Meyers masterpiece, The Holiday. As a refresher, the film’s four lead actors are Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black. As for Krasinski? He played Ben (a man employed by Diaz’s character, Amanda) who was on screen for less than two minutes. The floppy-haired Ben came, held a mug, apologized on behalf of all men, and went. But had Krasinski been cast as a lead in a film like The Holiday, I’m confident he would have thrived.

Krasinski’s portrayal of Jim Halpert proved that the man was born to steal hearts on screen.

If you still need convincing that Krasinski was destined for rom-com stardom, look no further than two of his more substantial supporting rom-com roles. In the 2009 Nancy Meyers masterpiece, It’s Complicated, Krasinski played Harley, the future son-in-law of Jane (Meryl Streep) and Jake (Alec Baldwin) — two parents who were separated at the start of the film, but developed a (yep, you guessed it!) complicated relationship as the storyline progressed. Harley was a caring, helpful, witty fiancé — the type of guy who would help carry bags, snap photos of your brother’s graduation ceremony on his Motorola Razr, and smoke weed with your separated parents and your mom’s new boyfriend in the bathroom of a house party. In other words, he was the total package. Though the role was small, Krasinski made Harley undeniably lovable by infusing him with his classic Jim Halpert charm.

He did the same with Ethan, his character in the 2011 flick, Something Borrowed. In addition to being the only redeeming character in this movie, Ethan was the longtime friend of Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin), the 30-year-old protagonist who realized a little too late that she was in love with her best friend’s fiance, Dex (Colin Egglesfield). While Rachel spent the movie pining over Dex, Ethan pined over Rachel, and I pined over Ethan. Krasinski essentially played Jim 2.0 by bringing his signature wide-eyed reactions, emotive facial expressions, and sarcastic under-the-breath mumbles to New York. The role let him flex his exquisite lovelorn stares again, and he got to deliver another swoon-worthy romantic monologue.

I dare you to watch this clip and tell me Krasinski doesn’t have major rom-com chops.

Something Borrowed somehow ended with a single Ethan and a “To Be Continued…” title card. Fans never did get a sequel. In our year 2022, I say why not give Ethan his own movie, showing him finding love a decade-plus later? Let this man be a rom-com king, you cowards.

I mean a good rom-com lead…

Now, if you’re familiar with John Krasinski’s filmography, you’re likely screaming, “NICOLE, this man HAD a leading role in the 2007 rom-com License to Wed.”

To that, I say: I know. But there are two issues with that fact.

For starters, while Krasinski’s performance in License to Wed was solid, the movie was Bad. Like, a seven percent Rotten Tomatoes rating bad.

Another glaring issue with that role was that Ben (Krasinski) and Sadie (Mandy Moore) were engaged for the whole movie, which is not the rom-com dynamic that Krasinski needs. The first few minutes of License to Wed — a montage of flashbacks that showed the main characters experiencing their meet-cute, first kiss, first “I love you,” first apartment together, and marriage proposal — were the best parts of the film, because they showed the characters falling in love, not simply going about their lives in love.

Let this man be a rom-com king, you cowards.

As we learned from Jim and Pam’s captivating will-they-won’t-they, slow-burn romance, Krasinski has mastered the art of playing a guy who’s crushing on a girl. I’m simply asking someone to recognize those strengths and cast him as the lead in a rom-com that will properly showcase them. Nancy Meyers, my girl. Where ARE you? I’m giving you gold over here!

Over the years, Krasinski has acted in other films — like Away We Go (2009) and Nobody Walks (2012) — that allowed him to explore romantic relationships. But those were both dramas and his characters weren’t single. Since The Office aired its final episode in 2013, Krasinski set out to play more serious roles in 13 Hours, Jack Ryan, The Hollars, and of course, A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II (the last three of which he also directed). Don’t get me wrong, I support Krasinski’s creative growth, and it’s gratifying to see him challenge himself in ways he never could have had he still been playing a funny guy stuck behind an office desk. I just wish he’d done all of those things and become our perfect rom-com lead.

I for one wasn’t ready for Krasinski to get jacked and transform into a bad-ass action hero just yet. I wanted to see more flirting; more skinny ties; more cheesy tropes; and a sappy, grand romantic gesture or two from him on the big screen. The morsels of Krasinski’s rom-com potential piqued my interest, but they ultimately left me hungry for more.

As the great rom-com queen Jennifer Lopez taught us, it’s never too late for a return to romantic comedies. So here’s hoping that we see John Krasinski’s Second Act or even his Marry Me one day.