When I saw the trailer for Rental Family, I was pretty sure I knew exactly what kind of movie I was going to get. Yes, this is super predictable, and honestly, the trailer tells you most of what the movie is. However, this had a ton of heart and was a real feel-good kind of movie that had me smiling most of the time I watched, but it also had some pretty “hit you right in the feels” moments as well.
Where to Watch Rental Family
Rental Family was released on November 21. You can stream the film from Disney+.
The Movie Review
With Brendan Fraser as the lead, the movie is set in Japan, which gets some cool points from me. Brendan Fraser plays the role of a man called Peter. Peter is an actor, and he had a pretty big hit in Japan a few years back in a toothpaste commercial. Since then, he has struggled to find real success as an actor in Japan, often taking small, rather meaningless jobs to get by and keep his name and face out there.
A Unique Concept and Setting
While struggling to find his next big role, Peter ends up being convinced by Shinji to work for his Rental Family business. Peter is not sure, as it sounds so weird! Basically, it is what it sounds like, people rent a person to play the role of a family member for a period of time, and Peter is going to be Shinji’s token white guy, a premise which I found absolutely hilarious.
The Two Clients That Shape the Story
After a while, Peter gets two very important clients, and these serve as the main part of the story. One of Peter’s clients is a little girl called Mia, and Peter is going to be acting as her father figure. This one is kind of messed up, as Mia’s mother has her whole life mapped out for her. However, seeing Peter and Mia starting to get to know each other is pretty heartwarming stuff.
A Story That Really Hits Home
The other main client that Peter has is a man called Kikuo. Kikuo is an older gentleman and a retired actor who is dealing with dementia. Peter is hired by Kikuo’s daughter to pose as a journalist, so that he can keep an eye on him. While much of the promotion for the movie was about Mia and Peter. For me, this story with Kikuo tugged way more at the heartstrings.
A Strong Cast and Emotional Impact
All of the actors in this movie do a wonderful job; everyone clearly knew exactly what was expected of them here. The acting is just fantastic, and Brendan Fraser is such a likable guy that you truly do connect with him and the relationships that he has with the characters. I also think that the Japanese setting is wonderful and one of the major highlights of the movie for me.
Final Thoughts on Rental Family
As I said, Rental Family is a very predictable movie, and the trailer tells you exactly what you are going to get. Yet, that does not mean this is a bad movie at all; it may not be a movie I am in a rush to watch again, but I left the theatre with a smile on my face. It does tug on those heartstrings for sure, but by the time the credits roll, you feel really good.
