Academy Award Winner Brendan Fraser teams up with director Hikari for the heartwarming film “Rental Family” from Searchlight Pictures. Hikari also co-writes the script with Stephen Blahut.
Phillip Vandarploeug, portrayed by Fraser, is a solitary American actor navigating the vibrant streets of Tokyo. His latest role as a funeral stand-in unexpectedly captures the attention of Shinji (Takehiro Hira), the shrewd owner of a unique Japanese rental family agency. This agency specializes in providing stand-in roles for people who crave connection and companionship.
Although Phillip juggles various clients, two individuals stand out in his heart. While Phillip has his roster of clients he takes care of, two people in his heart take a special place. One, Mia (Shannon Mahina Gorman), is a young girl who wishes for a father. The other, Kikuo Hasegawa (Akira Emoto), is an older, much more jaded and woebegone former actor. As Phillip finds his way in these new and strange parts, he finds deep ties and pure joy. Phillip is now beginning to find a place he feels is home, being a part of a family he built himself.
Taking stock of the world around us now, Rental Family was one of those movies that makes you appreciate why people go to the movies. Riding high on his recently won Oscar, Fraser shows the kind of charms and foibles that have been keeping him a perennial fan-favorite as an actor. The film doesn’t cheaply needle this by having Fraser act like an awkward lech in scenes; instead, Hikari offers the much more mature observation that Philip might need this rental business as much as they need Philip.
There is a long plot about an escort, and instead of building a romance between Philip and this character, the film emphasizes the need for customer service. The film nicely plays Philip with Mia and Kikuo, both of whom are played very well by the actors. Mia is seen as an old soul, while Kikuo is at the end of his life, wishing for the lost opportunities of youth.. Mia is portrayed as an old soul, whereas Kikuo, nearing the end of his life, yearns for his lost youth.
The supporting cast contributes significantly to the film’s strength, with Takehiro Hira and Mari Yamamoto providing commendable portrayals. It is hoped that the backstory of Hira’s character will be further explored in the film’s home release, particularly in the deleted scenes. Additionally, Mari Yamamoto’s subplot is engaging and adds depth to the narrative.
“Rental Family” successfully maintains audience engagement throughout its duration and features another award-worthy performance from Brendan Fraser. This film is a genuine crowd-pleaser, earning a place in my top ten films of the year, and resonates with the quote “Families are like branches on a tree; we grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.”
Final Grade: A
“Rental Family” opens in theaters on Thursday, November 20th.
