Brendan Fraser anchors a heartfelt drama about connection and identity
In today's world, you can rent almost anything. You can rent a car, an apartment, a steam vacuum...heck, you can even rent a wedding dress! But what about renting a family? In theory, "renting" a person for an event seems like a great idea. In reality, it never works out the way one would hope. However, in Japan, there are about 300 agencies that rent out "families" for those who are willing to pay. For out-of-work American actor Phillip Vanderploeg (Brendan Fraser; The Whale), it's a way to pay the bills, but one he isn't exactly comfortable with, and a job that changes his life. Rental Family explores that unlikely premise with warmth and sincerity.
Phillip has lived in Japan for seven years and works as an actor, but when his agent tells him to dress up in a suit and act like a sad white guy, he is a little confused. What he walks into is a funeral for a guy who isn't really dead. Afterwards, he meets Shinji Tada (Takehiro Hira; Shōgun), who gives Phillip his business card and tells Phillip to come by his office. Curious, Phillip goes to the office and learns that Tada runs a rental agency where actors are rented out to individuals for all kinds of events. After taking a few jobs, he discovers the deception is easier than he initially thought, but also much more difficult.
Co-writer and Director Hikari (37 Seconds) infuses the plot with warmth and heart while teetering on the edge of heartbreak. There is an underlying sadness woven between the happy moments, but that doesn't drag the film down into a depressing place. Hikari utilizes some stunning locations to give the movie pleasing aesthetics and does a terrific job of threading pieces of Japanese culture throughout the movie.
As witnessed by his Academy Award, Fraser is extremely talented, and he gives Phillip the heart that this movie needs. Phillip wears his heart on his sleeve, and you can see the joyous and sad moments across Fraser's face to the point that you want to sympathize with him. Hira is also excellent, and the rest of the cast is very good as well. Newcomer Shannon Mahina Gorman does a great job for being so young, and she and Fraser have good chemistry, making their father/daughter relationship believable.
The 1080p video resolution with a 2.00:1 aspect ratio allows for some beautiful visuals with excellent color saturation and sharp images. Details, such as the threading on Philip's sports jackets, are clean, and the varying color hues make for some deep, rich, and true colors throughout the movie.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 has clarity throughout the film, regardless of whether or not there is dialogue in the scene or merely the soundtrack surrounded by ambient noise. The ratios are perfect, and one element doesn't overpower the other. These audio tracks don't get the same workout as with an action movie, but they are no less detailed, coming through the surround sound speakers clearly.
The Combo pack comes with the Blu-ray disc and a digital download. The disc holds the movie and a very small set of extras, including Rental Family Revealed, and Deleted/Extended Scenes (Columbus, Crying Session, Apology, Aiko's First Client, Clearbright, Tickets, Audition, Phone Call, and Final Montage). It is disappointing that there wasn't much more to the extras than those few.
With a somewhat original concept and a highly qualified cast, Rental Family brings something to the table that not many movies can claim these days. This was definitely the feel-good film of 2025, and I'm sure that feeling doesn't fade after multiple viewing so I would definitely recommend the purchase.
Grade: B
