Rental Family (2025)★ 7.7/10

Are we all just acting through life? People can enter our lives and monumentally change them, for better or worse. In the new movie RENTAL FAMILY, lovable teddy bear of a man Phillip Vandarploeug (Brendan Fraser) is struggling to find acting gigs in Tokyo. He gets hired by Rental Family, a company that sends actors to clients that need a stand-in for a variety of things; wedding/funeral guest, romantic partners, even estranged parents. As Phillip gets more gigs, he is shown many different facets of life, allowing him to fill the void in their lives, and his own. Two of these gigs take center stage in this movie. The first is when he poses as a journalist, interviewing a legendary but forgotten actor Kikuo Hasegawa (Akira Emoto), who is in the beginnings of dementia. The second is when he poses as an estranged father to a young girl Mia Kawasaki (Shannon Mahina Gorman), who is trying to get into a private school that requires a father. This is inspired by actual businesses such as Japanese Efficiency Corporation. It deals with identity and loneliness, highlighting the stigma of therapy in Japanese culture. It acknowledges the troubling nature of these gigs and presents serious moral and ethical quandaries. The side characters are layered, revealing themselves slowly over time. It’s not flashy or sensationalizing. It’s heavy, but it’s very well-handled and the script finds the right moments to add levity. It's a self-aware character study of a white man in Japan who will never stop trying to understand the unique culture. It’s a love letter to Tokyo, showcasing some spectacular images of Japan. Fraser gives yet another Oscar-worthy performance. Overall, RENTAL FAMILY is a deep heartwarming crowd-pleaser about humanity and connection. It hit me in all the best ways. If you’re human, I couldn’t recommend it more.

VIFF 2025 #4
Oct 4 – Rio Theatre – 6:00pm

Pretty interesting look into a world I never knew existed, but is apparently very commonplace in Japan.

Story was fairly predictable, but it landed the emotional beats it needed to, and still managed to throw a couple surprises to keep things interested.

Worth it for Brendan Fraser alone, but wouldn't have nearly as much of a punch if anyone else was in that role. Give the man more lead roles!!!

What a unique film this is. I love the use of language and the conversation about understanding culture. The premise is fascinating. This story was so enjoyable even if it was tidily resolved and a bit ham fisted at times.

"What l'm offering here is a chance to play roles with real meaning." -- Japan is so gorgeous. I want to go there someday. Brendan Fraser is just such a wonderful human being. He is such a comforting presence in this film.

Con una idea super original dóndes los actores actúan pero como personaje de la vida real.... Me gusto mucho la parte dóndes se hizo el padre de la niña y al final después que ella supo la verdad aceptó quedarse como amigos... Final feliz

Familia en renta es una película encantadora, agridulce y necesaria, que se apoya casi por completo en el carisma humanista de Brendan Fraser. Es una obra que sana el corazón, a pesar de sus momentos de guion más convencionales.