'Rental Family' is a heartwarming home run for Brendan Fraser - Review
Brendan Fraser (movies and tv series) keeps the streak alive. If The Whale (movies and tv series) made you cry, this one might make you smile through the lump in your throat.
Rental Family pairs a Hollywood favorite with a quietly moving Japanese story about loneliness, connection, and the strange jobs we invent to bridge the gap. It's funny. It's tender. And it sneaks up on you.
What it's about
Fraser plays Phillip Vandarpleog, an American actor adrift in Tokyo. He's the tall, gentle guy the crowd flows around, still treated like a 'gaijin,' still trying to find where he fits.
One odd gig leads to another: he's hired to attend a funeral where the "deceased" is very much alive and eager to hear his own eulogies. That's Phillip's accidental entry into Japan's rental family industry—agencies that send actors to play spouses, parents, or friends for people who need them.
How the movie wins you over
Director Hikari threads screwball comedy and soft-hearted family drama without letting either side drown the other. One minute you're laughing at the absurdity of a man pretending to be a groom for a woman whose parents don't know she has a girlfriend; the next, you're holding your breath as Phillip tries to be the stand-in father a young girl needs for a school interview.
Fraser makes this work because he lets awkwardness sit on his shoulders, then melts it with kindness. You feel him open up, scene by scene, and you can almost see the weight lift. It's simple, human stuff—and that's why it lands.
The people around him matter
Shinji, the agency boss (Takehiro Hira (movies and tv series), a standout from Shogun), pulls Phillip into the work and, honestly, into a life. Aiko (Mari Yamamoto (movies and tv series)) starts off unimpressed, then finds herself caring again because he does.
The best scenes might be with Mia (Shannon Gorman), the kid who needs a dad for a day. She's tiny, he's towering, and somehow she's steering the ship while he learns to be present. There's also a lovely, quiet connection with a legendary filmmaker (Akira Emoto (movies and tv series)) that sneaks past your defenses.
The big questions the film doesn't dodge
Is this work comforting—or is it a lie that can hurt when the curtain drops? The movie doesn't lecture, but it asks the right things. What happens when a child bonds with someone paid to be there? How close is too close? Where's the line between help and harm?
Hikari doesn't tidy it up. She lets the messiness hang in the air, and that honesty is the point.
Release details and quick take
- In theaters: Nov. 21 (PG-13)
- Director: Hikari
- Fraser's performance: 3.5 out of 4—warm, funny, and disarmingly sincere
- Vibe: Gentle culture-clash comedy with a big heart and real questions
Why this matters if you cover movie news or family films
Fraser's audience is broad, and this is a gateway title for viewers who want feel-good stories with substance. It's also a conversation starter for parents and teens about honesty, chosen family, and what support can look like in different cultures.
Programming note for curators: this plays well in feel-good season slots, with cross-over appeal to awards-leaning crowds who appreciate humane performances over spectacle.
If you're curious about the real thing
The rental family industry exists in Japan, and it's as complicated as it sounds. For a broader look, the BBC has a helpful explainer on the practice that's worth a read: The Japanese renting fake families and friends.
Takehiro Hira (far left), Mari Yamamoto and Bun Kimura (movies and tv series) play employees at a Tokyo service who try to keep their clients happy in Rental Family.
And if you want a feel before you file your piece or set a segment, here's the official trailer: watch the trailer.
Bottom line
Rental Family lets Brendan Fraser be exactly what audiences love him for right now: open-hearted, a little awkward, and absolutely present. It's funny without being snarky, tender without being syrupy, and thoughtful without getting lost in itself.
Maybe it's just timing, but this feels like the kind of movie people recommend to each other. Quietly. With a smile. And a "trust me."
