Brendan Fraser Says New Comedy Rental Family Reminded Him He’s ‘Good Enough’

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Brendan Fraser, the Academy Award winner, recently discussed his latest movie and how making it unexpectedly helped him deal with his personal insecurities.

During a question-and-answer session after a London screening, Brendan Fraser discussed his new film. He shared that making the movie helped him overcome feelings of insecurity, realizing he was capable all along and questioning why he’d been so hard on himself. The film, which opens in theaters on November 21st, centers on an American actor living in Tokyo who works for a unique service providing rental family members.

In Japan, a unique service called “rental family” lets people hire actors to pretend to be their relatives or friends. The film follows one man who starts to form unexpected bonds and rediscover happiness through this unusual arrangement. The cast includes Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina, Akira Emoto, and Shino Shinozaki.

Brendan Fraser isn’t alone in connecting with the ideas presented in *Rental Family*. The film debuted last month to widespread praise, currently holding a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have especially lauded Fraser’s charming performance, along with the film’s direction and humor by filmmaker Hikari.

During the panel, Hikari shared the story behind the film and discussed its exploration of loneliness. She explained that her co-writer, Stephen Blahut, unexpectedly found work in Tokyo providing ‘rental family’ services. Hikari, being Japanese herself, was initially unfamiliar with this business. She added that the pandemic exacerbated feelings of disconnection, contributing to the film’s themes. “The pandemic really created distance and a lack of connection between people,” she said.

The Stars of Brendan Fraser’s Rental Family Discuss Film’s Deep Meaning

It took five years to make *Rental Family*, a period that included the COVID-19 pandemic and industry strikes, delaying the start of filming. Interestingly, these challenges actually reinforced the film’s themes of loneliness and feeling disconnected. Actor Takehiro Hira, who co-starred with Fraser, shared how the film’s message resonated with his own personal experiences.

He recalled going to the United States at age 15 and spending many lonely days and Christmas evenings alone in his room, much like a character named Philip in the film. He said seeing that scene for the first time was deeply moving and brought him to tears.

Mari Yamamoto, an actress on the show *Rental Family*, explained that people crave connection and a sense of purpose. She believes this desire to be helpful to others is a key motivation for her character.

Rental Family will be released in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on Nov. 21.

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2025-10-17 16:57