Rental Family
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“Why do adults always lie?”
Overview
Brendan Fraser delivers a superlative performance in Rental Family, a dramedy that proves a charming surprise balancing poignancy and humour with rare delicacy. Set in modern-day Tokyo, Rental Family follows American actor Phillip (Fraser) struggling to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, Phillip rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
“Gets to the root of human emotions...a heartwarming film that asks thoughtful questions”
“(Fraser's) superbly nuanced and expressive performance proves key to the film’s power”
“A heartwarming jewel of a movie that is a dazzling showcase of Japan’s urban and natural beauty”
Why See This Film
In Rental Family Fraser demonstrates the deep well of humanism that won him the Academy Award as an actor performing in plays within society, acting as a journalist, a groom and a father for people who need a convincing warm body to fulfil a role. Director Hikari and her co-screenwriter Stephen Blahut explore the roles we all act, with a laser focus on the mannered requirements of Japan amplified by Fraser's beautifully embodied gaijin awkwardness.
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