Rental Family is utterly charming, and while it may not be perfect, Brendan Fraser delivers one of the best performances of the year.
Brendan Fraser has always been a great actor and I have always thoroughly enjoyed his work. So, after he returned to the awards conversations with The Whale not too long ago, I am thrilled to see he is once again getting the recognition he deserves with his latest film, Rental Family.
In this movie, Fraser portrays a down-on-his-luck actor who is struggling to make ends meet in Tokyo. When his agent gets him an unusual job as a stand-in at a funeral, he pushes back on making it a regular thing, but quickly finds himself enjoying making others happy.
As he enters people’s lives, he starts to find what has been missing in his own. But the number one rule for this line of work is not to get personally invested, because that will only lead to someone getting hurt.
Over the course of Rental Family, viewers see him with a few of his core clients. It becomes impossible for us to not be invested in their stories as well. Fraser is so lovable and sweet that it is easy to root for him and want only the best for him. Unlike how we have seen him in some of his older films, like The Mummy, he is quiet and reserved. A total sweetheart and someone who genuinely makes you happy to see happy.
While there is certainly drama and high stakes at times, this movie is more about the subtle human connections that we make with those around us and the impact that they have on everyone involved. The majority of his clients do not know that he is not who he says he is, but they know the connection is real and that is all that really matters.
The themes and messaging here are simple enough, but they are sure to leave a lasting impression. I immediately texted several people that I love after watching so we could catch up, and I know I cannot be the only one who did. That is how you know a movie is good. When it imprints on you and has an effect on your daily life.
Rental Family is a sweet and charming movie, that will cause most people to shed a few tears as they think about their lives and those in it. Brendan Fraser absolutely shines, delivering one of the best performances of the year, making it impossible not to fall even more in love with him as an actor.
His core supporting cast lifts him up as well, making this an unforgettable, powerful film. There are a few times it drags on, and it is quite predictable in the end. But overall, this movie is sure to leave a lasting impression about the power of kindness, something the world could use right about now.
About Rental Family
Set in modern-day Tokyo, Rental Family follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers.
As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
Rental Family is now playing in theaters.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.