Rental Family is a story about reinvention, belonging, and the lengths people will go to fill the void of loneliness. Phillip Vandarploeug (Brendan Fraser) is an American actor living in Tokyo, drifting through silence and impersonality after a string of disappointments. Out of desperation, he accepts a strange new gig. He will work for a Japanese agency that provides “rental families.” These performers play stand-in spouses, parents, friends, relatives or companions for clients who need someone to fill emotional and social roles in their lives. Phillip becomes a hired father to a girl named Mia, a stand-in son to a retired actor, and more. And with each role, the boundary between performance and authenticity dissolves.
What works in Rental Family is its warm, human-hearted nature, the strength of its performances, and the way it uses Japan. Fraser anchors the film with a gentle empathy and quiet charisma. He’s not flashy. He doesn’t pose as a hero. He’s a good man trying to do better. The supporting cast including the agency owner, the clients, and the families he serves round out the world with believable characters and honest heartbreak. Visually, the film is a treat. Cinematographer Takurô Ishizaka uses the varied landscape of Tokyo with aplomb. They use from cramped apartments, city lights, narrow streets, and quiet back alleys in ways that make the city feel alive as a character itself. Finally, the music and pacing give the story room to breathe and wallows in empathy rather than melodrama.
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Still, Rental Family may not satisfy everyone, given the very familiar narrative structure. The “good-hearted man tries to help, learns about himself” arc has been done before. So, some of the plot beats may feel comfortably predictable. And the ethical question at the film’s core: “is it right to step into people’s lives as a paid illusion?” sometimes lands lightly. The film touches on social isolation, economic hardship, and emotional need, but it rarely digs into consequences. For audiences who prefer their dramas to grapple more deeply with moral complexity, the tone may feel a little soft. The sacrifices involved seem minor. The weight of deception often vanishes by the end.
Even so, Rental Family succeeds on its own gentle terms. The movie doesn’t try to shock or aim for grandeur. Instead, it aims for kindness. For connection. For a reminder that loneliness doesn’t only belong to one country or culture it belongs to anyone who’s lost their way. And sometimes, the simple act of being seen by someone, even for rent, can help you remember who you are. Highly recommended
Recommended if you also enjoyed: The Farewell, Lost in Translation
Rental Family is now available to see in theaters.
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