If Brendan Fraser’s Upcoming Summer Blockbusters Suck, Don’t Blame Him For It

Posted by Nathan Deen (nathan@filmschoolrejects.com) on July 10, 2008 Share

Brendan Fraser

Brendan Fraser is a textbook example of a B-movie actor. The closest he has ever been in a serious role is ten minutes of screen time in 2005’s Oscar Winner, Crash. No, he’s not talented and his agent seems to have a keen eye for shit movies. And it didn’t help that among his first roles, were supporting ones in Paulie Shore vehicles (I guess you can call that a Pinto). Yes, this article has been written with the perspective that as a moviegoer, you have to look at the bright side, and see how a film, no matter what your original outlook on it is, can possibly be worthwhile. Yes, Fraser has a doozy of a list of bad movies, which includes titles like Monkey Bone, Dudley Do-Right, and George of the Jungle, with the occasional decent movie like Blast From the Past and Bedazzled. But what do all of these movies have in common? They’re comedies. Brendan Fraser and comedy shouldn’t even be put in the same sentence together.

I guess I should start getting to the point about why I’m defending the guy while I’m bashing him at the same time. He is not a total waste and can still serve a purpose. Put him in a comedy, and most likely, the film will tank. But put him in an adventure movie, and producers might just come away from the box office feeling pretty good. He’s just the kind of screen presence you need. He may be a one note character each time, but he’s got that note down to an exact science.

Through director Stephen Sommer’s throwbacks to Indiana Jones, The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, Fraser showed his existence in Hollywood could be useful. The words guilty pleasure immediately come to mind when I think about both movies. They’re both fun, and they’re fun because of Fraser and his creation of Rick O’Connell. He’s not in the same league of Harrison Ford, of course, but he’s certainly easy to watch. These are two movies I don’t mind revisiting every once in a while.

Brendan Fraser

This is probably not saying much, but Fraser’s summer one-two punch of Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor could prove to be a step in the right direction for him. The former is already getting surprisingly good early reviews. And what have all of those reviewers said so far? That the movie is fun.

Fraser might have what it takes to become a summer movie star, provided he sticks to the action adventure genre. When he’s in adventure mode, he has the charm and the charisma to put a smile on your face. He nails one-liners, produces enough laughs and does some pretty impressive stunt work as well. Which is why I’m going to give Journey to the Center of the Earth and and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor a fighting chance, even though the latter doesn’t look too promising what with Rob Cohen filling the director’s chair for Stephen Sommers and Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz not being caught dead on the same continent of where the filming actually took place. I think Fraser will fit the bill, though. So if anything, I probably won’t blame him.

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  • I watched Journey 3D and I think that´s the kind of movie to watch and forget about "real life" for an hour and half, cool 3D effects. But, as a long-time Brendan´s fan, I just cannot understand why people don´t go out and see him in The Quiet American, Gods and Monsters, Journey to the End of the Night and School Ties. I think he is the kind of actor who make big budget movies to allow himself to do some indie and dramatic roles. The Air I Breathe is a great movie too, make you think a thing or two about some serious stuff. Anyway, I love him...
  • Kate O'Neill
    Did any one ever see the quiet American? Journey into Night's End? The latter is not my favorite role, he play's a drug lord, but he has some serious acting chop's, give this talented, versitile, actor, a break!
  • Fraser was very capable in Gods and Monsters--I just think he was outshadowed by Ian McKellen. But then again, who isn't outshadowed by Ian McKellen?
  • Sorry for the retort delay, I was wikipedia-ing "Mars Bar". But why would I have to put the candy bar down? I can type with one hand. I'm sure you're familiar with the concept.

    And Uta was one I didn't need to research, but thank you.
  • I see you put down the Mars Bar you've been gumming to go Wikipedia 'Uta Hagen'.

    Glad I could help enlighten you.
  • @ Cole, you're the Dennis Miller of FSR, what with your semi-obscure namedrops and references. Well done! Also, Miller used to be funny too.
  • There's no way that George deJungle is actually Brendan Fraser. The weirder point is - who knew that Brendan Fraser had such rabid fans?

    There's a cult forming around you, Mr. Fraser.

    The good news is, what Nathan Deen doesn't know about acting and movies could fill a month's worth of emails. That's not a lot! Call Uta Hagen! Have Uta write us a month's worth of emails so we can calculate exactly how much Nate doesn't know.
  • Brian C. Gibson
    Hmmm....Anyone here think George deJungle might actually be Brendan Fraser?
  • George deJungle
    What you don't know about movies or acting could fill a month's worth of boring, interminable email.
    as for Bfraser- He's a fine actor with everyman appeal and all the kids loved him in George of the Jungle.
    On the basis of this article, I Unsub from this Volume and reject the filmschoolrejects.
  • Allan
    Yeah I got two words: School Ties. Dunno why he's chosen the stuff he has but hey he works and he can act I've seen it. I enjoy the guy even if he does pick projects that are a little quirky.
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