The trailer has been released forRental Family,an upcoming movie that follows the story of a washed-up American actor living in Tokyo who is offered a unique new opportunity. The film is described as a comedy-drama and is directed byBeef’s Hikari, who also co-wrote its script with Stephen Blahut.
The moviestars Brendan Fraseras the protagonist, in his first leading role sincewinning Best Lead ActorforThe Whale.Rental Familyis scheduled for release on Nov. 21, with a supporting cast that includes Takehiro Hira and Mari Yamamoto.
Searchlight Pictureshas revealed the trailer forRental Family,which opens with Fraser’s character acting in a series of his commercials, looking exhausted. One day,he is offered the opportunity to participate in a “rental family” program, where he is tasked with taking on important rolesin the lives of Japanese families.
Pitched as a group that is “selling emotion,” the job requires him to play roles from boyfriend, parent, sibling, and more in the clients' lives. The company needs a “token white guy,” though once Fraser’s character is working for them, things take a turn when he has to be a fill-in dad for a young girl named Mia.
What The Trailer Means For Rental Family
Rental Family’s trailer starts out in a comedic register. In one shot,Fraser slumps in a chair, dressed as a tree trunk for one of his commercials.Moments like these provide overt physical gags, which bridge well into the situational humor of the rental family company.
That said, theRental Familyclip has a clear tonal shift about halfway through. While the service is marketed as one that will help Fraser and clients find connection, it is not until later on that the protagonist discovers the truer meaning of that connection. This will likely serve as one of his main emotional arcs.
Not all the character dynamics are fully explained in theRental Familytrailer,but there appears to be a lot going on. The most central relationship is that of the lead and Mia, but Fraser’s character is also seen interacting with an older man at various moments, among others. These pairings will allow for multiple character arcs to take place in the film.
Our Take On The Rental Family Trailer
The Whalewas a deeply familial story at heart, so it is fitting that Fraser is taking this on as his next major role. Already, he looks like the perfect choice for the part, blending humor and levity with more serious emotional moments. If Fraser can stick the landing on this one,Rental Familywill truly solidify his positive career direction.
