Brendan Fraser Needs a New Agent …

Like his acting career, Tarzan is barely hanging on …

While I was taking a stroll during my lunch break, I saw a Brendan Fraser billboard here in Chelsea promoting the already-released Journey to the Center of the Earth. It got me thinking about his new movie that’s coming out tomorrow called, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. I haven’t seen either of those films, so my thoughts are completely unsubstantiated, but then again, these two movies probably don’t require that objective of a mind to guess its main intention: try to make some money off of a very loose storyline.

Here’s a few things I don’t get about the movies themselves, and specifically speaking, Brendan Fraser.

First, the movies. If the producers and the distribution company really wanted to make some money off of a questionable storyline, why Brendan Fraser? I know he’s got a nice jaw and he’s shown glimpses of his acting range in such classics as Encino Man and that Tarzan flick, but really? He’s a cash cow? Not only that, but their marketing stinks. The Mummy can market itself because it’s the third installment, but there’s been nothing presented to make me wonder why this movie is worth $10. Sure they have Jet Li, but he was a hot commodity about seven years ago. And Journey to the Center of the Earth—no compelling emotion comes out, not even if it’s 3-D.

Not his proudest moment …

Now, to Brendan Fraser. Why would a guy who has actually does have some acting chops (School Ties, With Honors, Crash) continue to roll out films that require nothing but a marketable face and broad shoulders? Not only that, but why be part of two movies back-to-back that seem to have the same character as the protagonist? I’m starting to wonder who his agent is. His agent must’ve called him up one day and said something along these lines:

“Hey Brendan, I’ve got a great proposition. Why not make tons of money by simply playing the same exact character for two films in a row? This might mean you might lose some acting cred and probably a good screenplay won’t come your way this year, but think about it, just a few months of screaming, punching and jumping into sand pits and voila, two fat paycheck.”

Apparently, this was an attractive offer, and who can blame Fraser … I mean, would you pass up the chance to be in a 3-D movie?

One potentially positive note is that Fraser is currently in pre-production to play Gung-Ho for a highly anticipated G.I. Joe film (caveat, same director did Mummy). If this movie’s good, all sins are forgiven… except for that Tarzan movie.