What makes this film so enjoyable is the much kinder, more respect-filled and sincere acting from Brendan Fraser so different than his Oscar winning, self-loathing on-line professor in The Whale. In this film, Fraser plays an accepted role in Japanese culture hired to replace people who are not presently, or maybe never been, close members of a family or friends, Including fathers, aunts, uncles, missing Dads, romantic partners, as a + 1 for social events, even as a deceased family member or aide to an elderly person. It’s amazing but true that in a city like Tokyo with population of so many millions, people can be so lonely.
Director Hikari, co-wrote the script with Stephen Blahut, (both cinamatographers who worked together to create 37 seconds). Hikari made this film in the wake of the COVID Pandemic to explore loneliness and human connection, from both the actor and client side of the Rental Family equation. The agencies are selling emotion, providing what’s missing from individuals in their everyday lives.
In a virtual press conference with Director Hikari and the whole cast, Hikari talked about making the film after realizing how isolated people of all ages became during Covid and that this agency was one way to cope with loneliness.
Phillip Vandarlpoeg (Fraser) is a gentle man, an American barely making a living as an actor in Tokyo. His only recognizable character role was in a TV commercial as a sparkling man flying around in a blue and white suit with a gigantic toothbrush flying. There is a lot of comedy, especially in the beginning of the film as we see this struggling actor in various costumed roles taking whatever jobs he can get.
He goes for an interview with Shinji Tada (Takehiro Hira), head of an agency who explains how it works finding there appears to be plenty of work for Phillip to take on different roles in real individual’s lives. He’s warned by Shinji, who had an experience of his own, that doing this can tax his emotions and they can stay with you. His second in command, Aiko Nakajima (Mari Yamamoto) isn’t very communicative with Phillip in the office. Later in the film, a scene between Aiko and Phillip shows they understand what this agency means to people, along with lasting feelings can haunt them doing this kind of work. “It stays with you.”
Hikari creates a montage of all different kinds of roles Phillip plays getting used to this kind of work. Some of them include wearing silly costumes, and some have him doing a variety of tasks. Phillip’s first serious role is playing the father of a young girl, Mia Kawasaki ,(Shannon Gorman) whose single mother (Shino Daki) needs him to fill in as her Dad to get her daughter accepted to a prestigious school. Initially, Mia wants no part of him, but Hikari uses subsequent scenes to show their blossoming relationship. Shannon is a another very talented kid actor. There are ups and downs to their relationship, but Fraser handles both her feelings and his own with just the right sentiments. The hired Dad likes her and becomes very attentive, while Phillip is juggling other clients at the same time.
He’s hired to act as a journalist to interview famous, but lonely elderly actor Kikuo Hasegawa who has dementia and is past his prime. Hikari cast legendary Japanese actor Akira Emoto who has appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows. Fraser (fluent in French) and Emoto took language classes, Fraser in Japanese and Emoto in English, so they could communicate and work together better. In the film, despite Kikuo’s crusty personality, Phillip learns to hold Kikuo in high regard, considering a kind of father figure. The most beautiful scenes in this film Director Hikari captures when the elderly man insists on going to the countryside that always meant the most to him in the past. These scenes are lovely, serenely beautiful in contrast to the crowded scenes in Tokyo. When their visit is suddenly cut short, it doesn’t get in the way of their mutual friendship.
Some may say this is film is too melodramatic dwelling on these sensitive relationships, but we found it charming. People can feel isolated for a number of reasons and Hikari has chosen to follow several examples of how a Rental family can solve loneliness for those longing for human connection. Fraser is pleasant, quiet and controlled in this sweet, heartfelt film. Hikari’s film offers food for thought for a practical way to resolve the need for human connection. We think Rental Family deserves a long term lease.
Searchlight 1 hour 50 minutes PG 13
In theaters now
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