Rental Family - A Charming Story Full Of Heart That Will Resonate In Your Soul

Rental Family is a film with a huge heart, which may manipulate your emotions, but it earns every tug with genuine warmth and charm.

Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

As an American, it’s always refreshing to step into a story set outside the familiar, and it’s even sweeter when that story stars Brendan Fraser against the beautiful backdrop of Japan. Directed by Hikari, best known to many Western viewers for the acclaimed Netflix series Beef, Rental Family follows Fraser as Phillip, a struggling actor who’s relocated to Japan in search of work and, more importantly, a sense of belonging. Hikari draws on Fraser’s natural gentleness and charisma, using them to seamlessly mirror the soul of the film itself. His introduction alone brings an immediate calm, the cinematic equivalent of a warm hug letting you know you’re in safe hands.

Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Phillip drifts from audition to audition, landing only quirky commercial gigs, roles that end up becoming surprisingly popular throughout Japan. Although we see these callbacks only briefly, they’re delightfully reminiscent of Fraser’s comedic style in Bedazzled, where parody is king. Still, this role is far from parody. Fraser demonstrates his full range, oscillating between whimsy and emotional sincerity with ease.

Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

The story takes off once Phillip stumbles into a job with the company Rental Family, a business that provides actors to fill emotional roles in people’s lives. Through this, Phillip encounters a variety of clients whose needs reveal both the film’s humor and its more vulnerable truths. While some emotional beats feel predictable, the journey is peppered with enough surprises to keep an entire theater guessing, as mine had multiple moments of audible gasps. The film’s magic lies in these small, intimate moments that leave you rooting for every character’s journey.

Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

As someone who daydreams about living abroad, I found Rental Family’s portrayal of Japan irresistible. Hikari showcases the country's everyday beauty, its landscapes, customs, and gentle rhythms, without coming across as heavy-handed. It’s woven naturally through the story, inviting you to consider renewing your passport or imagining a new life beneath the cherry blossoms. The characters we meet aren’t idealized; they’re imperfect in relatable, human ways that stay with you.

Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

By the end, Rental Family is both exactly what you expect and something more. I’ve heard it described as “cute,” and while that’s true, it doesn’t do justice to the film’s precision or emotional depth. It’s cute in the best way, thoughtful, heartfelt, and quietly profound. The supporting cast breathes authenticity into every moment, and the score is stunning, elevating the film’s emotional impact with grace.

Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Ultimately, Rental Family leaves you reflecting on the double-edged sword of empathy: how it connects us, how it exposes us, and how essential it is to being human. It’s a tender reminder of the importance of having a heart, one willing to feel, to fail, and to find meaning in caring for one another.