Film Review: RENTAL FAMILY (2025): Brendan Fraser Plays an Actor Who Discovers the Power of Human Connection in a Solid Drama
Rental Family Review
Rental Family (2025) Film Review, a movie directed by Hikari, written by Stephen Blahut and Hikari and starring Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Gorman, Hideko Hara, Misato Morita, Akira Emoto, Helen Sadler, Kimura Bun, Paolo Andrea Di Pietro and Daikichi Sugawara.
Rental Family, directed by Hikari, introduces a fascinating premise which plays out remarkably well for much of the film’s running time. Unfortunately, the ending feels like a bit of a bait-and-switch as the trailer promised deep emotions and the film ends up presenting a very different conclusion than what one may be hoping for while watching the earlier stages of the picture. This film is more of a movie about suppressed feelings and human survival than about the staying power of human connections. It teaches us that those interactions with people are so pivotal to our existence, but suggests that, at the end of the day, we’re usually on our own. Now, Brendan Fraser stars in the movie which makes it that much easier to like than it could have been given its ultimately somewhat melancholy premise.
Fraser portrays an actor named Phillip Vandarpleog, a middle-aged man who has had some success working in a toothpaste commercial. The roles are few and far between, however. He resides in Tokyo, waiting for his next big break and gets the opportunity of a lifetime when a company calls him to play a “sad American” at a supposed funeral. The funeral isn’t for a deceased person, but rather a preparation for an eventual death. Phillip finds an interesting dilemma when he is asked to pose as a woman’s husband. It seems the woman needs to have a “front” for her true emotions and Phillip could play that part. Phillip is an interesting name choice here as it seems this character needs to “fill up” his life with something great and, eventually, he does. Kinda.
Phillip initially hides in the bathroom at a new gig, but is convinced to take on a job as a “dad” to a young girl named Mia (Shannon Mahina Gorman). Mia’s mom wants her daughter to go to a competitive school and Phillip’s presence as Mia’s dad would make that more of a possibility in her eyes. Anyone who’s ever seen a movie before will know that Phillip and Mia will eventually form a bond and that they will develop a strong connection that will test Phillip and make him see both the beauty in life and the sorrows in it as well.
Fraser’s scenes with Gorman are simply delightful to watch. Their characters attend a festival together, she gets her face painted like a cat and they get to know one another. Mia is fascinated when Phillip talks about his Irish heritage which, if the scenario were true, would make Mia part Irish. These scenes are among the best of the film as Phillip tries to get to know the young girl and help her and she, in turn, leads him to giving up a role that he has been anticipating for a long time as he expects that the bond he has formed with Mia could be long-lasting.
The supporting cast is all top-notch. Takehiro Hira as Shinji Tada, the owner of the rental agency is perfect. Shinji, in one of Hira’s best scenes here, discusses with Phillip the seven thousand clients he has had which helps prove that we live in a lonely world where people yearn for perfection and rarely find it unless it is staged. Another strong performance is that of Mari Yamamoto as Aiko Nakajima, a woman who asks Phillip what he would do if he could rent a person, himself, to experience something that was important to him. Aiko and Phillip connect as well, but the movie never sugarcoats their bond together and keeps it intriguing, but more or less, professional. Finally, Akira Emoto nearly steals the film as an older gentleman, a character who yearns for continued relevance in his life. Fraser and Emoto work well together and Emoto’s turn here stands out even in a film such as this one which is full of top-tier performances.
Fraser’s Phillip is a lost soul. He ends up going to get a massage from a woman after getting “married” to a client of his company the same day. Phillip is riding a roller coaster in his life that is full of lost dreams and wasted experiences. In the end, Phillip finds some sort of personal salvation through the events that occur in the movie and Fraser seamlessly captures the character’s transformation by the time the movie reaches its powerful concluding scene.
Rental Family doesn’t always work, but it’s strong enough to recommend. Fraser is excellent in a performance full of complex emotions. By the time Phillip realizes what he’s lost, he’s found a purpose in his life by the film’s end. This movie was very emotional, but could have used a stronger conclusion. Phillip’s life comes full circle, but not in the way the viewer had hoped for in the early stages of the film. But, never mind. Fraser has added another winning role to his performance history and could just find himself getting many more accolades for his work in this interesting new picture.
Rating: 7.5/10
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