Likable, yes. But for the longest time he had a reputation for rather wooden acting.

I don't think he's shirked that reputation. He's just taken on roles that utilize that. See Matrix trilogy and the john wick movies. You don't need to have incredible acting chops to play a fairly stoic killer/Superman.

Point Break Live! took advantage of exactly that and recruited an audience member every night to read Johnny Utah’s lines. Little old ladies saying Sir, I take the skin off chicken.

According to Wikipedia, he's received praise from critics for some smaller roles that don't fit the typecast, though.