Brendan Fraser Shines in Heartfelt Drama ‘Rental Family’

In a unique cinematic exploration, *Rental Family*, starring Brendan Fraser, opens in theaters on November 21, 2023, offering a poignant look at a service that exists in Japan, where people hire actors to play the role of family members. The film presents a delicate balance between emotional storytelling and ethical dilemmas, with Fraser’s performance at the heart of its appeal.

Plot Overview: A Desperate Actor’s Journey

Fraser portrays Phillip VanderPloeg, an actor who has lived in Japan for seven years. Struggling to find steady work, he reluctantly accepts a job from Shinji, played by Takeshiro Hira, who operates the Rental Family service. This service allows clients to hire actors to fill specific roles in their lives—an arrangement that initially leaves Phillip feeling uncomfortable.

One of Phillip’s most challenging assignments involves playing the husband of a bride, played by Misato Morita, whose parents disapprove of her actual marriage. While the film does not deeply examine the ethical implications of this arrangement, it emphasizes how the deception provides the bride with a sense of liberation without severing family ties.

Another poignant subplot features a single mother, portrayed by Shino Shinozaki, who hires Phillip to impersonate her daughter’s estranged father during a school interview. This scenario highlights the discrimination single mothers often face, as the school has a bias against them. Although Phillip grapples with the morality of deceiving a child, he ultimately agrees to the role, motivated by a desire to help the young girl, Mia, played by Shannon Gorman.

Emotional Depth and Ethical Quandaries

The relationship between Phillip and Mia deepens as he becomes more involved in her life, blurring the lines between performance and genuine connection. This subplot reflects a universal theme: the lengths to which parents go to manage their children’s emotions. Despite Phillip’s good intentions, the inevitable conclusion of their arrangement leads to emotional turmoil for both him and Mia.

“Fraser has always been an actor who can bring sincerity to cinematic situations,”

noted film critic Fred Topel, who has written extensively on the subject. He highlights how Fraser’s performances, from his role in *The Whale* to earlier works like *The Mummy*, showcase his ability to convey genuine emotion in complex situations.

The film also subtly critiques the Rental Family practice. Although it offers temporary comfort to clients, it ultimately fails to fulfill the deeper emotional needs they seek to address. As Phillip navigates these complex scenarios, he begins to question the ethics of the service, ultimately leaning towards a more responsible approach rather than outright condemnation.

As the story unfolds, audiences witness the emotional consequences of these relationships, particularly when Phillip is forced to step away from the role he has come to cherish, leaving both him and Mia grappling with loss.

*Rental Family* serves as a thought-provoking exploration of human connection, societal expectations, and the inherent risks of emotional deceit. With Fraser’s nuanced performance at its center, the film invites viewers to reflect on the nature of relationships and the complexities of human interaction.

As the film opens to audiences in Los Angeles and beyond, it promises to spark discussions about the implications of hiring actors to fill emotional voids and the broader societal issues surrounding family dynamics.