Rental Family Parent Guide

After seven years in Japan, Phillip Vandarpleog (Brendan Fraser) is struggling to establish a successful acting career. He’s done some TV, made a few commercials, but hasn’t had a big break. Then one day he receives a call to put on his black suit and prepare to be a “sad American”. Much to his astonishment, he discovers that he’s pretending to be a mourner at a fake funeral – and there are more gigs like this one.

Shinji Tada (Takehiro Hira) runs Rental Family, a business that finds actors to fill roles in people’s lives. Need a fake groom? Give them a call. Want someone to remind you of your best friend or your late grandmother? Rental Family can fill that spot. Initially uncertain about the business, Phillip is finally convinced to give it a try when Tada informs him that he can “play roles of real meaning”.

It turns out that Phillip has a flair for the work and soon he’s called in for a big role. Single mother Hitomi (Shino Shinozaki) needs a stand-in for the long-gone father of her daughter. Mia (Shannon Mahina Gorman) has applied for admission to an elite private school, but the school’s strict interview process will weed out a girl who lacks a father. As Phillip preps for the interview and comes to know Mia, he finds it impossible to separate his role from his own emotions and the work becomes increasingly personal.

Rental Family is a thoroughly delightful film. It’s full of laugh-out-loud moments: rarely have I heard so many people laughing in a theater. Director Hikari knows his own culture inside out and affectionately examines its quirks on the screen. A thoughtful, well-written script keeps the story moving while giving Phillip time to consider the consequences of the roles he plays. Does he help people by filling an emotional or relationship vacuum or does he hurt them by helping them live a lie? And what about the people who don’t know that they are interacting with an actor? Are potential harms to them acceptable in pursuit of someone else’s happiness? As this film illustrates the depth of our need for human connection, it reminds us that we also require transparency in those relationships.

Not only is this a tender, achingly human story, it’s also well told. The cast are excellent and Brendan Fraser shines, making Phillip vulnerable, compassionate, earnest, and self-doubting. The cinematography is well done, with lovely scenes of the Tokyo cityscape and the Japanese countryside. Best of all, negative content is minor with some alcohol consumption and seven curse words. Non-explicit sexual content involves a kiss between two women and a brief scene of a man in bed with a prostitute (with no sexual activity).

More to the point, this film underlines the famous words of American author Kurt Vonnegut, “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” Rental Family gives audiences plenty to think about given its plotlines revolve around pretence, deceit, compassion, and kindness. It’s great to have a movie that makes you laugh; having one that makes you think is a real bonus

About author

Kirsten Hawkes

Kirsten Hawkes has a BA in Political Science and English and has worked in international development and medical education and marketing. Kirsten enjoys reading, watching movies, and debating politics with her husband and sometimes unwilling children.