'Rental Family' writer-director says new comedy based on real service providing human connection

CHICAGO (WLS) -- "Rental Family" is a new movie that just opened to rave reviews, and it is playing in theaters now.

It stars Brendan Fraser as an American actor struggling to find work in Japan. He's desperate and takes a job "pretending" to be a loved one for complete strangers.

Hikari is the writer-director and told ABC7 the story is based on a real-life service that provides people with human connection.

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Fraser's "Phillip" will take any part just to keep acting. So when he's hired for a "Rental Family," he gets into character! Soon, he's not just "performing." He's bonding with his clients.

"He just meets incredible people that he never expected to meet otherwise," Hikari said. "And he just formed this relationship from coworkers to people he actually gives a service to."

Hikari came to the U.S. as a teenager.

"I think the just from my experience being an exchange student in Utah, being the only Asian girl, the people I surround myself with became my best friends or my family... the chosen family," Hikari said. "In America, the therapy and therapists are much more accessible. But countries like Japan or some parts of Asia, it's not as easy. Some of them in our culture are a bit stigmatized. So if you have a mental illness, basically these companies, what they're providing is a service to talk and be there for them."

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Hikari discussed why they think Americans are so fascinated with Japanese culture.

"Japanese culture is very about harmony, right? Where as in America it is how to become individual in the how to voice your opinion. Which is the the reason why I moved to America, I need to voice my opinion," Hikari said. "And also, Tokyo is kind of a crazy city, too. It just there's a lot of animation that pop culture, fashion, hair everything is happening in one this like a giant place."

Hikari spoke about the heart of the new movie.

"None of us have a perfect family, right? But then the families are who you surround yourself, found family," Hikari said. "Let's appreciate what you have instead of what you don't have -you still can show the appreciation, because that love will come back to you."

Disney is the parent company of Searchlight Pictures and this news station.