4/30/10

Furry Vengeance

I wonder if Brendan Fraser drinks. That would be one way to dull the pain when your main source of income is in witless but popular kiddie fare, while your more artistic attempts are studiously ignored. His "Mummy" franchise was enormously $ucce$$ful, as was "Dudley Do-Right," while the more earnest "Extraordinary Measures" landed with a thud at the box office.

At Saturday's screening, he was, once again, cast in an unflattering role, physically unattractive, socially inept and professionally craven. However, and this is a BIG however, the audience response was so enthusiastic I actually thought for a moment that there was a separate laugh track. When I looked around the theater, I saw people were totally involved with the animatronic critters, all of whom were explosives experts and psychological warfare specialists. Children and adults were vocal in their glee as they watched the animals devise corporate dirty tricks along with tactical skunk emissions and the pathetic sight of a slightly pudgy Fraser forced to dash out of his house in an ill-fitting woman's sweat suit.

Fraser's character has moved his unwilling wife, played by Brooke Shields ("Lipstick Jungle") and son, played by Matt Prokop ("High School Musical") to Oregon to develop a "green" community, unaware that the evil corporation that employs him has no intention of keeping it green. Of course, a local raccoon is aware, so he quickly musters all the critters in the forest; they attack Fraser because he represents the developer.

This brings me to Ken Jeong ("The Hangover") who plays Fraser's boss. This actor is all over the place: movies, good and bad; plus TV, good and bad. I have to say that he can make me laugh, even when I really do NOT like the characters he plays. I guess there's something to be said for that.

Oh well, the kids are gonna love this movie!