Chris Pratt Helps Rob McElhenney With ‘Parks and Rec’-Themed Birthday Surprise for Ryan Reynolds
Welcome to Wrexham‘s Rob McElhenney continues to prove he’s best buddies with Ryan Reynolds as he prepared a special birthday celebration for his fellow Wrexham A.F.C. co-owner with a Parks and Recreation twist with the help of Chris Pratt.
Honoring Reynolds’ 47th birthday, McElhenney brings Pratt into his offices for help introducing the special gift. Sitting in awkward silence in the video, above, Pratt bluntly asks, “What am I doing here?”
“You know how Ryan and I are always doing these elaborate things for each other’s birthdays?” McElhenney replies. While Pratt casually says yes at first, leading McElhenney to jump into his reason for reaching out, Pratt eventually admits, “I don’t know, but I’m excited. Tell me.”
(Credit: FX)
This leads to a silly and awkward discussion about social media and how Reynolds and McElhenney share their birthday surprises on various platforms. “Do I have to follow you to see it?” Pratt asks. “Was it on his social media? I might have seen if it was on his. I don’t know if I follow you…” he trails off uncomfortably.
McElhenney eventually gets to the point: “Anyway, this year, my idea involves a park.” It takes a moment for Pratt to recognize the reason for his involvement before he says, “Oh, ’cause I was on Parks,” in reference to his role as lovable goofball Andy Dwyer on NBC‘s workplace comedy Parks and Recreation. The revelation is then proceeded by a montage featuring Parks and Rec‘s theme music with visuals of the newly renamed Ryan Reynolds Memorial Park in Wrexham.
McElhenney’s voiceover reveals that the spot will sit where Wrexham’s old Hippodrome once stood, making way for green spaces, pop-up restaurants, movie screenings, and much more — including actual green lanterns, a nod to Reynolds’ titular role in 2008’s Green Lantern — as well as “benches for old guys to swing on.”
The surprise, cleverly referred to as “Parks and Wrex” in the video, came together with the help of Wrexham County Borough Council, as the public space in the heart of Wrexham will be a place for the community to gather, grow, and play. The makeover for Ryan Rodney Reynolds Memorial Park will be a reflection of the spirit of Wrexham and Wales, according to the project’s website, parksandwrex.co.uk.
Don’t miss the fun tribute, above, and although Parks and Recreation is off the air, fans can catch McElhenney and Reynolds in the current second season of Welcome to Wrexham, which tracks the progress of their football team in Wales.
Welcome to Wrexham, Tuesdays, 10/9c, FX
