In Rental Family, Brendan Fraser plays Phillip, an American living in Tokyo. Struggling to make ends meet, he finds work at a unique company that “rents” family members to lonely clients. As he takes on various roles, he begins to form real emotional bonds, blurring the line between acting and genuine connection.
Phillip’s life is modest. He watches the lives of others from his balcony, feeling isolated. His life changes when he meets Shinji, the head of the Rental Family agency. Reluctantly, Phillip joins the team, embarking on a journey that explores loneliness and connection.
This film dives into a growing global issue: loneliness. According to a 2023 study, over 60% of adults report feeling lonely at some point. Rental Family showcases the lighter and darker sides of a service designed to combat this loneliness.
The movie presents a range of relationships, from transparent to deceptive. For example, Phillip becomes a video game buddy for an antisocial man, helping him step out of his comfort zone. In another subplot, a mother hires Phillip to give her daughter a father figure. The complexities of these roles reveal how people seek connection, often in unconventional ways.
Fraser shines as Phillip, portraying a warm-hearted character who struggles with the balance between professional distance and genuine care. Despite Shinji’s warnings that it’s just a job, Phillip’s nature leads him to invest emotionally in the lives he touches, suggesting the idea that helping others can enrich our own lives.
Interestingly, Rental Family intertwines elements of Shintoism, offering cultural insights that add depth to the storyline. The film invites viewers to reflect on their own relationships and how they can be improved. In a world where loneliness is prevalent, the message of connection resonates deeply.
Overall, Rental Family is captivating. It encourages us to seek meaningful relationships and reminds us that we are worthy of love and connection. If you seek a heartfelt story that tugs at your emotions, this film is worth watching.
