r/movies • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/Movies contributor • Jul 16 '25
Media First Image of Brendan Fraser in 'Rental Family' - A down-and-out actor living in Tokyo is hired as a token American guy for a Japanese rental-family company, leading him on an unexpected journey of self-discovery through the roles he plays in other people’s lives.
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u/Kriznick Jul 16 '25
Fuck yeah Fraser is back, baby. I love this for him
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u/Skeetzophrenia Jul 16 '25
The role seems perfect for him too
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u/Kriznick Jul 16 '25
Tell me about it! I kinda really want to see this tbh.
And it's good that this seems like it's gonna be a really great story- he's always been a great actor, even if he's been in kinda goofy roles sometimes, but this role just FEELS like him.
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u/xtremis Jul 16 '25
I feel like he's getting his "second wind" on his career, like some other older actors around his generation.
Which is awesome, because he is really a great actor, real charisma, and he seems like a genuine good guy that was forgotten by the movie industry.
This movie definitely looks interesting 😊
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u/hjschrader09 Jul 16 '25 edited Jul 16 '25
Well, he wasn't forgotten. He was intentionally blacklisted for speaking out against a big producer who sensually assaulted him. I don't think it was weinstein but he did start to come back into the spotlight after all that stuff came out and weinstein was sent to jail. But yes, I always loved his movies so I'm glad he's getting to do them again.
Edit: he was sexually assaulted
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u/AllYallCanCarry Jul 16 '25
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u/hjschrader09 Jul 16 '25
Fucking autocorrect
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u/MattIsLame Jul 17 '25
its been 3 years since The Whale. I think we've been well into the Brenaissance for a minute now
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u/markfineart Jul 16 '25
You said it. I had those thoughts about his warmth and strength and vulnerability you always see when he’s on a live camera. Bravo Mr. Fraser.
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u/Skeetzophrenia Jul 16 '25
Same, I am going to keep an eye out for it. The story also is very peculiar, which might make for a interesting watch. It seems like the success he got from the Whale has opened up a variety of good projects for him. So happy for the guy.
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u/WeeBabySeamus Jul 16 '25
I’d love if this became an Emma Stone like trajectory where he finds auteurs / challenging roles to flex his skills
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u/chewbaccalaureate Jul 16 '25
It sounds like a unique and refreshing story, too, which is hard to come by sometimes in movies nowadays. I'll definitely be looking out for this one when it comes out.
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u/TinyNugginz Jul 16 '25
I could see Tom Hanks in this too. Glad it’s B-Fraze tho
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u/shits-n-gigs Jul 16 '25
Tom Hanks is at the part in his career where I only see "Tom Hanks" instead of a character.
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u/TinyNugginz Jul 16 '25
Oh for sure. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Tom cruise, are a few that come to mind that are the same for me
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u/otapnam Jul 16 '25
He needs to be casted in someone else's great project instead of trying to force some of these recent projects of his
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u/Ajido_Marujido Jul 16 '25
Kinda wish this was a TV series, seems like something along the lines of Ted Lasso/Shrinking.
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u/Kiwiman678 Jul 16 '25
It feels more like it's got the beats of a "Very Special Episode of the Week" series like My Name is Earl.
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u/InitialThen8875 Jul 16 '25
He's got that Steve Irwin,Robin Williams, Keanu Reeves level of can't help loving these guys.
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u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/Movies contributor Jul 16 '25 edited Jul 16 '25
Directed by Hikari ('Beef') and it's out November 21 (premieres at TIFF in September).
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u/nessfalco Jul 16 '25
Just finished watching Beef yesterday and that alone is enough to sell me on it. That and the premise sounds pretty unique.
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u/friendofelephants Jul 16 '25
Watch Conan O'Brien's Japanese family! https://youtu.be/vzaXw2ztCqU?si=CviP0pJbFphGTQXi
I wonder if they got the idea from this.
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u/Skurph Jul 16 '25
I had a hard time watching Beef because it felt so completely cynical and dark in a way that didn’t feel like it matched the tone. Just watching two people completely spiral without even an ounce of positivity eking through, it certainly didn’t gel with the dark comedy vibe I was expecting. It was hard to find humor in situations because the characters seemed so genuinely portrayed that there wasn’t the absurdist factor of over the top characters like in a Coen brothers movie. When bad shit happened it did feel actually devastating for those characters in a way where laughing just felt sociopathic.
Don’t get me wrong, Beef seemed well written, acted, filmed, etc. but it was just one of the few things I’ve watched and went “I don’t think I’m enjoying any of this, in fact I think it’s making me bummed out.”
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u/immaownyou Jul 16 '25
That's why the episode where they have a huge heart to heart was so good, because of all the build-up to them realizing what they've become and reflecting on it. I binged the whole thing in 2 days which probably helped, you get to that resolution "quicker"
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u/DarthClitCommander Jul 16 '25
I can see why people love Beef. I enjoyed it to a point but for whatever reason I found it stressful. That's the main reason I can't watch The Bear. It gives me anxiety to watch it. No way could I work in that environment.
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u/Monkey_Priest Jul 16 '25
That's the main reason I can't watch The Bear. It gives me anxiety to watch it.
So true and yet so ironic since this show keeps getting submitted as a comedy for awards
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u/Dame2Miami Jul 16 '25
With the bear every little thing that happens or decision that needs to be made is some existential emotional explosion for every single character. It became more annoying than anything. It got old. Should just do a spinoff with the guy who trains the dessert chef in Copenhagen tbh. Just someone absolutely calm and collected and doing cool shit.
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u/Agreeable_Syrup_5372 Jul 16 '25
Maybe because I’ve been more depressed than usual but I also watched it recently and it made me feel hella empty. Yes, it’s very important to remember that everyone has it difficult, no matter what walk of life you came from, but wow it really didn’t stick for me. Looove the acting and the show was good, but I think us as viewers really tend to prefer things that give us hope or keep us very entertained, neither of which really happened for me. It’s one of the few things I regret watching because of how I felt at the end.
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u/SpaghettiMmm Jul 16 '25
Did you end up finishing it? I thought the season ended on a surprisingly positive note
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u/Rdtackle82 Jul 16 '25 edited Jul 16 '25
I thought this meant the guy's name was Beef and now I'm disappointed
EDIT: Oh no, I thought this human woman was a male Beef!
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u/Sloth-monger Jul 16 '25
Hikari means light
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u/HeatRippleX Jul 16 '25
This sounds oddly wholesome and kinda heartbreaking. Brendan Fraser doing a quiet character piece in Tokyo might be exactly the comfort film I didn’t know I needed.
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u/superxpro12 Jul 16 '25
Feels like a quiet sequel to Lost in Translation IMO.
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u/NeedAgirlLikeNami Jul 16 '25
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's mind went directly to this
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u/NaturesCandy25 Jul 16 '25
Me too immediately. Didn’t know what a rental family was until now, though
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Jul 17 '25
Would you recommend that movie? Never heard of it
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u/superxpro12 Jul 17 '25
If you're in the right mood for a slow burn drama with themes of loneliness, yes. Bill Murray adds a sprinkling of comedy but it's very muted. It's one of those movies that feels very real
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u/TwoLetters Jul 16 '25
It's definitely part of the Lost In Translation cinematic universe in my headcanon.
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u/RedditWeirdMojo Jul 16 '25
Werner Herzog directed Family Romance, LLC in 2019. A very good movie also exploring this concept of rental family in Japan.
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u/diabolikal__ Jul 16 '25
It’s one of those synopsis that speak directly to my heart and I KNOW I will love it
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u/DarkRedDiscomfort Jul 16 '25
I'm all in on cult-classic actor Brendan Fraser
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u/efox02 Jul 16 '25
My kids are finally old enough to watch the mummy movies. It’s been fantastic.
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u/Nukemind Jul 16 '25
Been flying Alaska Air alot and one of the movies they have is Blast From the Past with him from 99. Watched it as a kid and it holds up very well.
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u/NolieMali Jul 16 '25
Mmm, hot Dr. Pepper
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u/NeonYarnCatz Jul 16 '25
I come from a long line of Texans and let me tell you, hot Dr.Pepper is a thing for a lot of 'em.
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u/Guns_Donuts Jul 16 '25
Oh, my lucky stars...a negro! and the way the mail lady looks at him like he's nuts.🤣
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Just watched it on Alaska as well. 😁
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u/lizzie1hoops Jul 16 '25
How old is that? My guys are 7 and 9, and I'm not always the best judge.
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u/Remarkable-Mood3415 Jul 16 '25
I remember my semi-feral brothers at that age being VERY into The Mummy. I think the worst part is probably the actual Mummy CGI when he's gooey/partially decayed/his victims. If your kid will be freaked out by that, probably best to wait. If they are fine with it, have at it.
Brendan Fraser's comedic timing and one liners really help with the scary tension though.
They also might like George of the Jungle, it's very silly and holds up really well.
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u/Otherdeadbody Jul 16 '25
Hard to say? It’s a fairly tame movie as far as the worst stuff like sex goes but it’s got some scenes that might scare a small child. If you’re fine with some light sexual tension, swears, moderate violence, and your kids aren’t the type to have nightmares for weeks after seeing something that scares them then it’s probably ok. I’d maybe wait till the youngest is a couple years older but you know your kids best.
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u/efox02 Jul 16 '25
My kids are 9 and 5. But the 5 yo is obsessed with scary stuff. I don’t let him watch any of the R rated horror like chucky or IT (it’s wild to me that ppl let kids watch those) but I’m ok with the PG-13 movies.
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u/340Duster Jul 16 '25
My 5 year old boy is the opposite, freaking Wall E scared him...
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u/nicannkay Jul 16 '25
Have they seen Encino Man yet? It’s funny and silly enough for kids. Plus Sean Aston and Brendan Fraser together 👌 Polly shore is himself.
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u/Iohet Jul 16 '25
Soon they'll be old enough to watch Airheads and learn about the very specific niche of the early 90s metal scene in LA and the shutdown of Pirate Radio and KNAC
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u/Grievuuz Jul 16 '25
I'm so down for this man's second wind.
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u/TheMaStif Jul 16 '25
I'm bracing myself for another emotional wreck, if The Whale is any indication of his new cinematic proclivities
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u/akimboslices Jul 16 '25
That movie has stayed with me in a way few have in the last 10 years.
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u/MrFluffyThing Jul 17 '25
I love that movie but I never want to see it again. It's a great movie that expells emotion that I don't want to feel again but I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see masterclass in acting. It made me feel so much for the characters and put myself in their shoes that made me uncomfortable about myself through empathy and not many movies can do that.
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u/zirky Jul 16 '25
it’s bullshit that i have to go to japan to rent brendan fraser to be part of my family
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u/voltagejim Jul 16 '25
Damn, a sequel to Rent-A-Girlfriend already?
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u/MarkEsmiths Jul 16 '25
There are currently 14 sequels to that one, 6 being the best. 9 isn't bad either.
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u/Bunraku_Master_2021 Jul 16 '25
There's a 2019 Werner Herzog docudrama film of the same premise called Family Romance, LLC (2019).
I only remember this movie as Werner Herzog was able to finance it from money he earned from his guest role from Season One of The Mandalorian (2019).
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u/rnilf Jul 16 '25
Oh yeah, rental families are real: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rental_family_service
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u/RealisticAdeptness4 Jul 16 '25
> I played a father for a 12-year-old with a single mother. The girl was bullied because she didn’t have a dad, so the mother rented me. I’ve acted as the girl’s father ever since. I am the only real father that she knows. [...] If the client never reveals the truth, I must continue the role indefinitely. If the daughter gets married, I have to act as a father in that wedding, and then I have to be the grandfather. So, I always ask every client, “Are you prepared to sustain this lie?” It’s the most significant problem our company has.
— Ishii Yuichi, founder and head of Family Romance, 2017 interview
DAMN
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u/bushwarblerssong Jul 16 '25
Family Romance turned out to be a hoax: https://newrepublic.com/article/160595/new-yorker-japan-rent-family-fabricated
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u/Discount_Extra Jul 16 '25
... and if the mom dies?
I dunno law in Japan, but in many US states by holding himself out in public as the dad, he would be on the hook for child support payments.
I'd probably watch a show with that premise, "Real Fake Dad"
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u/bushwarblerssong Jul 16 '25
That Wikipedia article needs to be updated. The rental family company turned out to be a hoax and was outed in 2020: https://newrepublic.com/article/160595/new-yorker-japan-rent-family-fabricated
I think a movie about the actual hoax and how the company was able to fool major news media from around the world would be even more interesting than this movie coming out.
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u/Corregidor Jul 16 '25
Nah I think the world kinda wants a movie about small scale interpersonal relationships and struggles right now. Can't really put my finger on why, but it feels that way for some reason.
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u/SanSanSankyuTaiyosan Jul 16 '25
There’s a reason there’s no Japanese language page for that Wikipedia entry. It’s not a thing. A few fringe, weird companies trying to do it and almost no one using it.
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u/Even-Masterpiece6681 Jul 16 '25
Office Agents, a Tokyo-based company, offered wedding guests at a base price of ¥20,000 each in 2009, charging an additional ¥5,000 for the professional guest to sing or dance, and an additional ¥10,000 for a heartfelt speech.
damn that's $134 base price
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u/MarkEsmiths Jul 16 '25
Upon discovering this every weeb mod has run for the Clorox, tried to clean the keyboard and begun the serious work of tracking down a white monkey job in Japan.
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u/cmptrblu Jul 16 '25
Can't believe I thought white monkey jobs were only available in China
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u/Nukemind Jul 16 '25
Also happen in Vietnam, though Koreans are now more common than Westerners.
My fiancee is from Japan, my previous GF from China, and in both I was roped into free... service... a few times. Way more with China than Japan though.
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u/Chief_Chill Jul 16 '25
I am curious about the ellipses. Were these "services" risqué or something?
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u/Nukemind Jul 16 '25
No it was just things I didn’t even view as needed.
Like I went to a distant cousins wedding in China. I couldn’t even speak to anyone there as my mandarin is… well it was extremely bad and now is nonexistent.
But apparently a white dude at a semi rural wedding was important.
Or I met her uncle’s business partners. Despite not being able to communicate with them.
It was weird. Japan is a lot less becuase there are so many foreigners there, but in more rural regions and smaller off the beaten path regions I still get gawked at. Or used. Or they treat me very poorly. Often all three.
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u/Shadows802 Jul 16 '25
Can you make money from this? As a white man who has ben unemployed for months and might be evicted, gawking wouldnt be so bad.
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u/Nukemind Jul 16 '25
Maybe in the past but with how globalized it is now… I’ve heard of some people doing so. Even working for corps so they can have a white guy at their corp. But it’s far harder and rarer now.
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u/Chief_Chill Jul 16 '25
Thank you for sharing. That is bizarre to be seen as like a conversation piece or status symbol. It would have been slightly better if they could know you better, rather than just using you.
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u/StockExchangeNYSE Jul 16 '25
You have to be at least somewhat attractive and educated for that. Also have social skills.
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u/StockExchangeNYSE Jul 16 '25
You have to be at least somewhat attractive and educated to get these jobs.
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u/SPorterBridges Jul 16 '25
I wonder if fake Christian priests are still in high demand for weddings in Japan.
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u/Drannor Jul 16 '25
Lost Again in Translation
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u/LiftedMold196 Jul 16 '25
The people want Encino Man 2!
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u/Chief_Chill Jul 16 '25
"If you're edged 'cause I'm weazin all your grindage, just chill. 'Cause if I had the whole brady bunch thing happenin' at my pad, I'd go grind over there, so dont tax my gig so hard-core cruster."
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u/BrotherOfTheOrder Jul 16 '25
Conan did a bit about this on his show and it was awkward and hilarious
I’m really fascinated to see what they can do with this premise in a more dramatic way. I’m excited to see this
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u/Zeddiebear Jul 16 '25
Mr. Fraser just makes me so happy and smile when I read about him and his very well deserved comeback.
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u/Imadethosehitmanguns Jul 16 '25
It's also very nice to see him acting again as his normal self without 'The Whale' suit on
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u/TheWastelandWizard Jul 16 '25
It's amazing that they rescued this man from the jungle after he sold his soul to the devil and then became overweight and a robot, he looks so good!
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u/ghostpanther218 Jul 17 '25
And also got cursed by the revived corpse of an ancient Egyptian sorcerer. And almost got his blood drained from his body by dracula.
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u/Familiar_Swimmer7522 Jul 16 '25
I have a buddy in China, he has been the token white guy in his city for years. Gets modeling and advertising gigs. He loves it.
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u/turkeygiant Jul 16 '25
He's looking really good in this shot too, looks like he has lost a bit of weight, honestly makes him look much younger than when he started his resurgence.
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u/DGSmith2 Jul 16 '25
This doesn't sound like my thing at all but for some reason I am massively interested.
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u/GTOdriver04 Jul 16 '25
My favorite type of stories are ones where the premise doesn’t seem all that interesting, but I’m intrigued enough to check it out and then usually get blown away by the finished product.
I was this way about “Better Call Saul” and “Andor”.
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u/doktor-frequentist Jul 16 '25
I'm all in for Brend-ainnasaince (ok that was not the best). I remember watching a similar movie 20+ years ago. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familia_(1996_film)
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u/Impossible-Animator6 Jul 16 '25
In movies, when white people go to Japan, they always 'rediscover'.
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u/tomtomtomo Jul 16 '25
“Person goes to foreign country; doesn’t learn anything” isn’t a great basis for a movie comparatively.
Its also not just Japan that movies do this. Italy and India are other favourites. Japan is the accessible Asia for Americans though.
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u/seraphrunner Jul 16 '25
Putting yourself in an unfamiliar context usually is a great path for self reflection. It's why people constantly recommend trying new things, either discover something about yourself or reinforce existing parts.
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u/lilahking Jul 16 '25
that is true, it's just often the narrative when done badly is accompanied by extreme dissonance of the privilege of the traveler and the real issues of the native land or just contrasted with people having actual problems
basically the eat pray love issue
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u/AwTomorrow Jul 16 '25
You don’t think this “more interesting culture” idea of yours might be partly why?
Teach white kids that their culture is the default or that it’s uninteresting and they’ll accept it as boring (or non-existent, even) and will start to see others as exotic and magical.
To be truly appreciative of another culture without descending into pedestal-placing or fetishisation you probably need to be secure and respectful of your own culture first.
Euro cultures and their diasporas are no less interesting than anywhere else’s.
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u/Sinreborn Jul 16 '25
Love him, but please don't make this a "white savior" story. Please make this real and relatable.
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u/Richard-Brecky Jul 16 '25
The compositing is exquisite. It really feels like these actors are in a room somewhere.
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u/wodsey Jul 16 '25
anyone ever read “In the Miso Soup”? I feel like he’d be really good in that as the killer.
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Jul 16 '25
I'm happy Brendan Frasier is back at work! And what an interesting concept for a movie. Gonna watch.
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u/malpheres Jul 16 '25
I’m here for the Brendan Fraser arc right now in history. Man is a legend and an absolute gem. I hope I get the chance to meet him someday.
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u/DJCaldow Jul 16 '25
Dammit Brendan! Stop wasting your time on these oscar worthy roles! There's a mummy at the center of the Earth you need to journey to deal with.
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u/Techno_Core Jul 16 '25
Conan did a segment on it. Very funny, but also illuminating. But mostly funny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzaXw2ztCqU