Brendan Fraser is having a resurgence

Brendan Fraser has been in the limelight since his first feature film, “Dogfight” in 1991. He has repeatedly proven his versatility as an actor with roles such as the heartthrob, adventurer, and serious actor, making him an icon throughout the 90s and 2000s. After he was plagued by injuries and claimed he was sexually assaulted on set, he decided to leave Hollywood behind and focus on his family. Over a decade later, he returned to television and film work. It was an uphill battle to gain recognition in an already cutthroat business, but his devoted fans always believed in his work and epic return. This motivated him to continue pursuing roles in television and film. He has made an incredible comeback with his latest role as a morbidly obese recluse who seeks to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Ellie. This film speaks volumes about what kind of roles Fraser is capable of, and the acting world also recognizes this. He earned a six-minute standing ovation for “The Whale” at the Venice Film Festival, which visibly moved him to tears. If you are new to his work, I have compiled a list of my favorite films that show he is a jack of all trades regarding characters.

“The Mummy” (1999)/”The Mummy Returns” (2001)
Category- Adventure/Action/Horror

This adventure story originally debuted in Karloff’s “The Mummy” in 1932 and was adapted by Stephen Sommers in 1999, starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and Arnold Vosloo, earning commercial success when it grossed over $416 million worldwide. The Mummy details an epic adventure with a knowledgeable librarian (Weisz) who comes across the lost map of Hamunaptra, the City of the Dead, and joins forces with a brutish American adventurer Rick O’Connell, played by Fraser. As the two embark on their Egyptian journey, Weisz’s character Evelyn accidentally awakens a dangerous mummy, Imhotep (Vosloo). They must defeat the mummy Imhotep with ancient magic from the book of the living. The second film is set several years later, and the mummy Imhotep has again risen. However, this time there's another antagonist added into the mix, the Legendary Scorpion King, acted by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The second edition improves with more comedy amongst characters and another captivating storyline that makes this film a classic as well.

“School Ties” (1992)
Category- Drama/Teen

This film has a star-studded lineup, is set in the 1950s and is a tale of a bright and talented footballer, David Greene, who lands an unbelievable scholarship to an elite private Catholic high school filled with prestigious families. All admire him until a
jealous classmate reveals his Jewish faith. Greene endures religious tension and abuse among his fellow friends and classmates. He must decide if he will stand firm in his faith against close adversity.

“Bedazzled” (2000)
Category: Comedy/Fantasy

The phrase making a deal with The Devil is taken literally in this belly-busting film about a lonely guy named Elliot (Fraser) who finds himself signing a contract with The Devil (Elizabeth Hurley). She grants him seven wishes in exchange for his soul, but with each desire, Elliot realizes precisely who he is dealing with. He is thrown into hysterically different versions of himself to gain the girl of his dreams, but The Devil never promised it would be perfect.

“Encino Man” (1992)
Category: Comedy/Teen

Unpopular teens Dave (Sean Astin) and Stoney (Pauly Shore) unlock the adventure of a lifetime when they accidentally discover a frozen caveman (Fraser) in Dave’s backyard. Unbeknownst to them, the ice preserving him melts away, and he is thrown into modern-day life in Encino, California. They teach their new friend ‘Link’ how to be a modern teen and hope their discovery increases their popularity and lands Dave the most popular girl in school. This hilarious tale of friendship gives an inside perspective on what it would be like to raise a caveman into a 20th-century guy.

“George of the Jungle” (1997)
Category: Family/Comedy

This larger-than-life tale is a family favorite about George (Fraser), a wild man who raised himself from infancy after a plane crash-landed in the thick African jungle. In adulthood, George saves the damsel in distress explorer Ursula (Leslie Mann) from a ferocious lion. Although Ursula is previously engaged, the attraction between the two is insurmountable, with the pair returning together in San Francisco. After his gorilla friend is captured, George returns home to save his friends.