The new trailer has been revealed for Rental Family. The movie 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 by Beef‘s Hikari, who also co-wrote its script with Stephen Blahut.

The movie features Brendan Fraser as the protagonist in his first leading role since winning Best Actor for The Whale. The supporting cast includes Takehiro Hira and Mari Yamamoto. Rental Family is set for release on November 21.

Searchlight Pictures has revealed the latest trailer has been revealed for Rental Family. The trailer 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 roles in the lives of Japanese families.

Pitched as a group that is “selling emotion,” the group requires him to play roles from boyfriend, parent, sibling, and more in the clients’ lives. The company needs a “token white guy,” and once Fraser’s character takes on the role, things take a turn when he has to be a fill-in dad for a young girl named Mia.

What This Means For Rental Family

Rental Family‘s trailer starts out in a comedic register. In one sH๏τ, 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, the Rental Family clip takes 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 said connection. This will likely serve as one of his main emotional arcs.

Not all the character dynamics are fully explained in the Rental Family trailer, 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 various pairings will allow for multiple character arcs to take place in the film.

Our Take On The Rental Family Trailer

The Whale was 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 emotional moments. If Fraser can stick the landing on this one, Rental Family will truly solidify Fraser’s positive career direction.

Source: Searchlight Pictures