Brendan Fraser’s smaller-scale comeback hits streaming
Brendan Fraser’s career resurgence continues with the streaming release of Rental Family, the intimate dramedy that reintroduced the Oscar-winning actor in a quietly powerful leading role. After a high-profile run that included Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon and the 2024 buddy film Brothers, Fraser returns to a restrained, emotionally focused performance that critics praised as sincere and affecting.
Rental Family, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before opening in theaters last November, arrives on Hulu (and Hulu on Disney+) on February 18.
What Rental Family is about
Fraser plays Phillip Vanderploeg, an American actor living in Japan who has drifted since his last notable success—a long-ago toothpaste commercial. Struggling to find purpose, Phillip takes a surprising job with a “rental family” service, a real-life type of business in which actors are hired to portray relatives, spouses or friends for clients who want temporary companionship or social cover.
As the film unfolds, Phillip becomes more than a professional stand-in. Tasked with being the “token white guy” among the company’s roster, he slowly forms attachments to the people he meets, improvising off-script to meet their emotional needs. The story explores cultural differences, loneliness, and the small human gestures that can change a life—often in messy, complicated ways.
Critical response
Rental Family earned strong reviews on its festival and theatrical run, securing a Certified Fresh 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics highlighted Fraser’s warmth and vulnerability, noting that the role suits his current trajectory as a performer capable of deep, understated emotion. Collider’s Ross Bonaime awarded the film a 7/10, praising its blend of humor and heartfelt moments.
The film also drew attention for breakthrough work from supporting players and newcomers, with one cast member receiving a Critics Choice Awards nomination for her performance.
Cast and creative team
Key contributors to Rental Family include:
- Brendan Fraser as Phillip Vanderploeg
- Mari Yamamoto as Aiko, Phillip’s colleague and friend
- Takehiro Hira
- Akira Emoto
- Shannon Mahina Gorman (Critics Choice nominee)
The film was written and directed by Hikari—whose credits include 37 Seconds and the Netflix series Beef—with Stephen Blahut as a co-writer. The production favors a modest scale and intimate camerawork that underline the story’s focus on character and quiet emotional beats.
What’s next for Fraser
Following Rental Family, Fraser has a mix of character-driven and larger-scale projects on his slate. He will portray General Dwight D. Eisenhower in Pressure, a World War II drama centered on the meteorological decisions that informed the timing of D-Day. The film, adapted from David Haig’s stage play, stars Andrew Scott as meteorologist James Stagg, the man tasked with choosing the invasion date.
Fraser is also attached to Radio Silence’s next installment in The Mummy franchise, reprising his role as Rick O’Connell opposite Rachel Weisz; that film currently has a scheduled release date of May 19, 2028.
How and when to watch
Rental Family becomes available to stream on Hulu (and Hulu on Disney+) beginning February 18. The film runs just over an hour and a half and is positioned as an emotional, low-key showcase for Fraser—an accessible watch for viewers who enjoy character-led dramas with moments of gentle comedy.
Why the film matters
Rental Family highlights the strengths that have defined Fraser’s recent resurgence: a willingness to take on nuanced, smaller projects that let him dig into human complexity, and an appeal that blends comedic timing with real tenderness. For fans and newcomers alike, streaming availability makes it easy to see why critics have embraced this understated emotional gem.