This one is a bit hard to define. We all know what a movie cameo is. A famous person who you weren't expecting (hard to fathom in today's spoiler world) shows up in a movie adding a bit of surprise, and spontaneity to the proceedings. Its almost always a meant to be a joke, as most people who cameo in films are usually doing it to have a little fun (or as a favor to the director). Very rarely do you see cameos that have any real barring on the story. The only example I can think of comes from the movie Sunset Blvd. That movie is positively chocked full of cameos but its not at all for fun. Each surprise appearance is strictly to provide specific character and overall narrative development. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn4pMI2q_PM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvajGqWodvM Besides that (and maybe an example from Robert Altman's The Player) cameos are strictly still known as a joking affair. But as we all know the same joke done over and over again can often get stale. A joke then must take on different complexities and dimensions evolving to find a new ways to make people laugh. In examining the role of cameo's in feature films I began to see how some filmmakers have taken the standard movie cameo and elevated it too a new meta level by doing something I like to call the In-Character Movie Cameo. The In-Character Movie Cameo is simple when an iconic character (or infamous, or of the moment) pops up in another film typically unrelated (hear that Marvel fans) to his/her own original narrative. For Example:
1. Brendan Fraser - In the Army Now
Original Role - Linkovich "Link" Chomovsky: unfrozen caveman slacker and star of the 1992 cult comedy hit Encino Man Cameo Role - Linkovich "Link" Chomovsky: unfrozen caveman slacker and now proud member of the United States armed forces Probable explanation: Well apparently Link took the whole assimilating into society thing very much to heart. What better way to prove that you do indeed belong than by joining Uncle Sam's Army and being all that you can be. If anything its a testament to the great work ethic that goes with the American spirit. Only in America can you start out as a caveman millions of years ago, get frozen, be un-thawed, go to high school, then join the army and steal food from Pauly Shore. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVG4GggIuco and learn Spanish apparently.....