The comedy-drama film “Rental Family” starring Brendan Fraser combines heartfelt moments with lighthearted humor, making it appealing to fans of both genres. Fraser, an actor living in Japan, plays a character who deeply impacts people’s lives. Here, a Japanese girl is told that her long-lost ‘white’ biological father wants to meet her. Fraser is the right age and fits the role of a relatable ‘white dude.’ I was surprised to learn that this service actually exists in Japan and remains popular today, adding authenticity to the story.
Japanese filmmaker Hikari and her cowriter Stephen Blahut create authentic characters, each with their own concerns and detailed agendas, who work through a storyline that is methodically enchanting. The film is both hilarious and impactful, showcasing significant changes that make for an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Having lived in Japan for seven years now, Phillip (Fraser) has lived in Japan for seven years and has no plans to move back to America. His acting career was stalled after a few silly TV advertisements. Meeting Tada (Hira), who runs Rental Family Inc., along with colleagues Aiko (Yamamoto) and Kota (Bun), changes his life. His jobs vary as a groom at a wedding, a journalist interviewing an acting legend (Emoto) who has dementia, and lastly as a father to the bright young girl Mia (Gorman), who thinks he’s really her long-lost dad. Phillip, being Phillip, can’t help but get involved with his clients, as he actually cares about them and their well-being.
Personally, I believe that the key to a great film is the excellent writing along with the superb direction, as the actors are able to dive in and make the film their own. Here we root for Phillip as he’s navigating his live to help others. Yes, it’s simple kindness, although that’s not always easy or comes naturally to people. What we as viewers see is the transformative power of kindness. We also witness the soft pace, quiet moments with bits of reflection, and comedy.
Fraser has already won our hearts in his Academy Award-winning film “The Whale” (2022), in which he played an obese recluse, embarrassed by his size. Here we see another side to Fraser as the “token white guy” who simply is a nice, kind guy, with no hidden agenda other than to help others with their problems of a missing relative. Yes, this is Brendan Fraser at his best, giving it his all, and I truly enjoyed his remarkable character and performance.
“The Rental Family” is playing now in theaters.