Brendan Fraser: The Overlooked Boy Scout

Brendan Fraser

I recently watched an interesting Brendan Fraser double feature. At the cinema, I saw Brendan Fraser in Loony Tunes: Back in Action, and then watched him in The Quiet American on DVD, later that night. It seems the star of such forgettable movies as the, unfunny comedy, Airheads and the annoying School Ties, has snuck in under this critic's radar.

As I watched these movies, I was struck by how easily Brendan Fraser fits in both a comedy and a drama. As a funny man, Fraser did great work in George of the Jungle. He played the stereotype dim bulb muscleman to such good effect, that he set a new standard. He failed to revive that type of role with the dismal Dudley Do Right. However, with Loony Tune's better material, Fraser is back in good comic form.

Dramatically speaking, Fraser has played some good roles. School Ties gave him a decent role but the movie was bogged down by political correctness. In Gods and Monsters, Fraser has a great role in a good movie. He plays the gardener and object of movie director James Whale's lust. Out of pity, Fraser's straight, ex-marine, goes along with one of the director's sexual fantasies, to a point. Although Fraser is in great shape, the near nude scene was a brave move for an actor who tends to do family oriented films.

In The Mummy movies, Fraser does Indiana Jones nearly as well as Harrison Ford. Fraser's on screen charm is at its best in these movies. He is slightly doofus and his muscular frame fits the role of action hero. He adds his subtle wit to such lines as "We are in serious trouble." and "Mummies! I hate these guys."

Fraser brings a Boy Scout quality to his roles. He always plays the good guy. Often, such as in Blast From the Past and Bedazzled, his characters are naive and or clueless. He is often a male version of the dumb blond. His characters are usually never too bright. Yet, they are always upstanding.

Fraser's first film role was as Sailor #1 in 1991's Dogfight. His first big role came the following year as a caveman in Encino Man. Considering how far he has come, I believe this 35-year-old married father has some more surprises in store for the movie going audience. In my opinion, Brendan Fraser is an actor whose career will prove to have legs.