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Two Asian Blokes
A podcast where we chat about Asian pop culture: films, tv shows, cartoons, video games, comics, books, food… whatever we’re feeling on the day, really. A little bit of news, a little bit of analysis, but a whole lot of fun. New episodes every Monday!
Two Asian Blokes
159 - Rental Family & Scarlet Review
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On this week's episode of Two Asian Blokes Podcast we take a look at two very different films: Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser, and Scarlet, the new animated feature from Mamoru Hosoda.
One is a live-action dramedy led by an Oscar-winning comeback king. The other is the latest anime film from one of Japan’s most celebrated directors. Naturally, we have opinions.
🎭 Rental Family (2026) – Starring Brendan Fraser, Rental Family follows a man who can be hired to play whatever role your life is missing. Heartfelt? Manipulative? Both? We break down Fraser’s performance, the film’s emotional core, and whether this high-concept premise earns its sentiment — or rents it by the hour.
🌸 Scarlet (2026) – The newest animated film from Mamoru Hosoda (Wolf Children, Belle). Known for blending sweeping fantasy with deeply personal themes, Hosoda returns with another ambitious anime feature. Does Scarlet reach the emotional heights of his best work, or does it get lost in its own visual beauty? We discuss the animation, themes, storytelling, and whether it stands among the strongest anime films of the decade.
From Hollywood dramedy to prestige Japanese animation, we compare tones, ambition, and execution — and debate which film actually delivers on its promise.
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⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 The Preamble
04:47 Rental Family (spoiler-free review)
27:48 Scarlet (spoiler-free review)
43:06 SPOILERS for Scarlet
💬 What did you think of Rental Family and Scarlet?
Is Brendan Fraser still on a career high? Does Scarlet rank among Hosoda’s best? Let us know in the comments.
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