Rental Family (2025) Movie Review

Rental Family (2025) Movie Review: Real Connections

Reaching a personal milestone recently, turning 40, made Rental Family hit closer to home than expected. Its reflections on purpose, connection, and the lives we build for ourselves resonated deeply on a personal level, and while the experience is difficult to neatly define, the film finds an effective balance between a light and approachable tone to surprising pockets of emotional weight.

Set in modern-day Tokyo, the story follows Phillip (Brendan Fraser), a struggling American actor who lands an unusual job with a Japanese “rental family” agency. His role is to temporarily step into the lives of strangers, playing stand-in figures to help them cope with personal struggles. As Phillip moves from one assignment to another, he begins forming sincere connections, blurring the line between performance and reality.

Rental Family leans heavily on performance and it’s anchored by a compelling turnout from Brendan Fraser. He once again proves his strength in dramatic roles, delivering a nuanced portrayal that requires him to shift between multiple personas. Fraser effectively captures the tension between artificial relationships and genuine human connection in an authentic and believable way giving the film much of its emotional credibility. The supporting cast also delivers solid work, though the film’s large ensemble means several characters are limited by brief screen time.

Where the film stumbles is in its narrative focus. Phillip’s various gigs are often introduced through montages leaving some story threads underexplored. While the film eventually narrows its attention to two key client relationships, other side stories feel unnecessary or undercooked. There’s also an overall feeling of safety and derivativeness in how the plot unfolds. In fact, Rental Family rarely surprises. Still, despite these shortcomings, the film’s dramatic moments land with sincerity and impact at the right moments. Rental Family, while imperfect, remains a highly recommended watch especially with how approachable it is, thoughtful, and quietly affecting.

Rating: 4 and a half reels