Have you ever laughed at Jackie Chan’s hijinks in “Rumble in the Bronx” and wondered what the deal was with those Canadian mailboxes in the background? During “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol," did you wonder why the sets for India, Eastern Europe, and Seattle all look strikingly similar? In “The Interview,” were you convinced that Seth Rogen and James Franco were arguing somewhere east of the Pacific ocean and not North Korea? Congratulate yourself. None of these films took place even remotely close to where they claimed to be (with the exception of Seattle) — they were all filmed in the third biggest film city in North America: Vancouver, British Columbia.
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In this video essay from YouTube sensation Every Frame a Painting, the Vancouver native recalls seeing "Homeward Bound 2" as a child and being infuriated that they were trying to deceive him — this was Vancouver on screen, not San Francisco. No matter how many USA Today vending machines the art department precariously positions in sight and notwithstanding any director’s decision to shoot at night in low focus, Vancouver is none of these cities. Rightfully so — it is an immaculate, thriving city of its own that needs to be recognized as not just a shooting location, but as the setting every once in awhile.
The next time that skyscraper in the background seems all-too-familiar — it probably is. Let us know of any accidental Vancouver-sightings you’ve had in the comments below.