Who would have guessed we’d have two films this year with a guy pretending to be a member of a family? It’s like “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon” again.
OK, in reality, unlike “Roofman” with Channing Tatum, the lead character in this movie isn’t a criminal on the run. Instead, Brendan Fraser stars as actor Phillip Vandarploeug. Once able to get steady work in Japan, acting in commercials and TV, Phillip’s job prospects have dried up.
Looking to keep his career rolling, he decides to take a gig with a different type of agency. Rather than acting in media productions, the company he starts working for has him portray relatives of family members. Skeptical at first, Phillip begins to build connections in the role.
“Rental Family” is a film with a few things going for it, one of which is the unique premise. Plenty of movies have featured the lives of actors and, as mentioned, the idea of a person pretending to be someone they’re not with a family isn’t new.
However, taking the route this movie does provides some freshness. Plus, there’s the added lens of Japanese culture, bringing another layer. It helps that the concept is executed well, too. This idea of actors entering the personal business of strangers and in the process building real relationships is compelling.
It explores the sting of being alone and captures the importance of human interaction, even if it’s done in unorthodox fashion. The movie also benefits from showing how the agency Phillip works for evolves, too, as his work begins changing the mindset for some employees.
There’s also a genuineness with how the lives of these characters are shown, and their crossroads make for engaging drama. There’s an appropriate amount of humor at play too, ranging from a few cultural barriers resulting in laughs to situational comedy. It makes for a well-balanced picture.
Detracting from the film is a third act that feels cliched in a few areas. Yes, the basis for what’s unfolding is different, but where it leads to in a few places is fairly standard. That’s not to say it sinks the film, just that it travels ground that is pretty well tread at points.
What keeps the film largely chugging is Fraser, who lends another really solid performance as part of his career resurgence. What’s always been impressive about Fraser is his ability to play roles where he shows a mix of vulnerability and resolve, and he does so again here.
His character has reservations about what he’s doing, but when the chips are down, he is open about his feelings and honest about doing right by those close to him. Fraser really manages to get this across. The supporting cast is quite good, too.
Shannon Mahina is a great young performer who is in a key role, and Mari Yamamoto is phenomenal as one of Phillip’s co-workers, Aiko. Aside from Fraser, Yamamoto has some of the biggest moments of the movie, and she nails it. The rest of the acting lineup is rounded out nicely with Takehiro Hira, Akira Emoto and Kimura Buna.
While there’s some familiar territory here, “Rental Family” has a winning formula. It’s humor and drama are both effective, the cast all give strong performances and the writing has true heart. Plus, the way its shot not only captures Japan well, but also convey moments of isolation and togetherness, complimenting what’s unfolding. 4.25 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 