Dwayne Johnson Breaks Down Watching Brendan Fraser's Dementia Scene
The Rock opened up about crying during a powerful moment in Fraser's latest film that hit close to home due to his own family's struggle with dementia.
During a recent Actors on Actors conversation, Dwayne Johnson revealed an unexpectedly emotional reaction to Brendan Fraser's performance in the comedy-drama "Rental Family." The wrestling superstar turned Hollywood heavyweight admitted he was moved to tears by a single line Fraser delivered in the film.
The moment that struck Johnson so deeply involved Fraser's character, Phillip Vandarploeug, comforting an elderly man battling dementia. Johnson shared his personal connection to the scene, explaining: "I loved the relationship between you two. And I'm dealing with dementia in our family, so I loved this idea that you want to create this moment for him, even if he's going to forget it, to give him this peace, take him home."
Personal Connection Brings The Rock to Tears
Johnson didn't hold back when describing how Fraser's words affected him on a deeply personal level. The former WWE champion revealed that the line reminded him of his own experiences with his father. "What you say to him rocked me, because it's what I said to my dad. It's your version of 'I'll see you again, my friend.' It just moved me. I was getting emotional — I was crying!" Johnson confessed.
The fact that someone known for his tough-guy persona could be brought to tears speaks volumes about Fraser's compelling performance in the film.
High Praise for the Entire Production
Johnson's admiration extended beyond just Fraser's performance. He called the entire movie "amazing" and specifically praised Akira Emoto, who portrayed the elderly man with dementia, describing him as "a legend" and noting "You feel his power onscreen."
The action star was particularly impressed with the film's unique concept, saying "The movie's amazing, but the conceit of it is so unique and different." "Rental Family," directed by Hikari, follows an American actor who takes on unusual work with a Japanese agency, playing substitute family members for strangers while searching for meaning in his own life.
Fraser's Motivation Behind the Role
When Johnson asked about what drew him to such an unconventional project, Fraser gave a refreshingly honest answer: "I was just looking for a job, man. It's all in the title: 'Rental Family'? Insert pejorative, cheeky joke here. But it piques your interest."
Fraser explained that director Hikari's approach to the potentially sensitive subject matter appealed to him. "She goes toward the prickly side of what that could mean, along with the softer side. The movie lives in between — it's not cynical. I needed to find something like that."
The Oscar winner revealed he first encountered the script before his Academy Award win for "The Whale," but emphasized he would have taken the role regardless of that recognition. Fraser described his post-Oscar mindset: "On the one hand, 'You better earn this. You got the brass ring but be worthy of it going forward.' But also, I felt like I don't have anything to prove. But that doesn't mean I'm going to just coast."