Brendan Fraser Stars in Japanese 'Rental Family' Drama at Toronto Festival

Brendan Fraser stars in the poignant dramedy "Rental Family," which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and explores Japan's unique rental family industry, where actors are hired to play family members or companions for lonely individuals. Fraser portrays Philip Vanderplug, an American actor in Tokyo who takes various roles to fulfill emotional voids for clients, including acting as a long-lost father to a young girl, highlighting themes of loneliness, chosen families, and the human need for connection. Directed by Japanese filmmaker Hikari, the film delves into the loneliness epidemic in modern society and the concept that family and belonging extend beyond biological ties. Fraser describes the story as a needed reflection on authenticity and acceptance in contemporary times, emphasizing that the rental family service reveals how people find community in unconventional ways. The film combines humor and heartfelt moments, with Fraser delivering a nuanced performance that underscores the emotional complexity of his character's journey. "Rental Family" invites viewers to rethink what it truly means to have a family and the ways people cope with isolation today.