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Brendan Fraser Leads Rental Family as Theatrical Release Begins

Hikari’s film explores Japan’s rental‑family industry through Fraser’s first major role since his Oscar.

Overview

  • The U.S.–Japan coproduction dramatizes real agencies that supply stand‑ins for missing relatives or friends, drawing ethical questions into the story’s core.
  • Fraser plays Philip, an American expatriate in Tokyo whose stalled career leads him to work for a rental‑family company after a fleeting stint as a toothpaste mascot.
  • The production highlights cross‑cultural collaboration, with Fraser speaking extensive Japanese on screen and sharing scenes with veteran actor Akira Emoto.
  • Promotion included an unconventional trailer featuring director Hikari explaining the real‑world custom in a direct‑to‑camera monologue.
  • Early local reviews describe a gentle, observational dramedy centered on Philip’s growing connection with a child client, while reports of Fraser returning to The Mummy remain unconfirmed and characterized by him as speculation.