Set against the beautiful Tokyo skyline, Rental Family weaves a gripping character piece between minor moments that become life’s essence. Rental Family is directed and co-written by Hikari, known for her gripping character work in 37 Seconds and Netflix hit Beef. Hikari’s vision of Tokyo comes to life through the mastery of Brendan Fraser and an eclectic cast of performers. Fraser, coming off Killers of the Flower Moon and his Oscar win for The Whale, centers a film brimming with emotional nuance. Rental Family promises an engaging, empathetic experience from the opening frames and continues into the wellspring of joy, sorrow, and greatness that life offers.
Phillip (Brendan Fraser) is a struggling actor living in Japan. He has been in the country for 7 years and has only had a little success, in the form of a toothpaste commercial. As major roles continue to elude Philip, a unique opportunity presents itself: to act in someone’s daily life. Starting playing a “sad American” at a funeral, Philip soon takes a job at “Rental Family.” An acting job that sees Philip portraying a best friend, a love interest, someone to talk to, or whatever the client needs in their life.
As Philip begins his role at “Rental Family,” the lines between professionalism and genuine love begin to blur as he acts as a father for a young girl, Mia (Shannon Mahina Gorman), and a journalist to aging actor Kikuo Hasegawa (Akira Emoto). What begins as a father-daughter relationship to get Mia into a prestigious school soon turns into a friendship that enriches both of their lives. Just as Philip and Mia connect, Phillip and Kikuo begin to bond in ways transcending from actor-to-actor to person-to-person. But how long can the charade last? Rental Family handles regret, love, loss, and closure with a gentle hand, as Hikari balances Oscar-worthy drama with wholesome conversation.
The cast of Rental Family makes the text possible. The script alone is powerful, but it’s through the cast’s deep character choices that the film shines brightest. Gorman breathes life into Mia, taking a great character and adding wisdom beyond her years. She infuses the subtext of Hikari and Stephen Blahut’s words with rich emotion, instantly connecting the character to the film’s themes. Emoto’s eyes alone convey deep regret, yet his smile gives Kikuo the duality the character needs. Takehiro Hira and Mari Yamamoto are excellent as the Rental Family staff, adding further layers to the strong performances and empathy throughout Rental Family. Each of these performances is what the character needs, and each flows seamlessly into Brendan Fraser’s masterful work.
Brendan Fraser’s emotional depth and chemistry show no bounds. Audiences have seen Fraser’s chemistry in action in his pre-Y2K classics like The Mummy, as well as in cult hits like Airheads and Now & Then. The Whale allowed Fraser to explore his emotional range and chemistry further than ever before, earning him long-overdue accolades. Yet Rental Family builds on everything that came before, showcasing Fraser’s gentle sensibilities and warm spirit amid a tapestry of emotions. Philip is the catalyst of Rental Family. Philip’s actions drive the cathartic character arcs, and it is through Fraser’s depth and chemistry that each moment feels earned.
From the mountains to the skyline to the cherry blossoms and bullet trains, cinematography soars in Rental Family. The shot placement tells the story beyond the words, allowing for the cast’s emotions to register for maximum impact. Beyond pure storytelling, cinematographer Takuro Ishizaka (of the gorgeous Rurouni Kenshin films) and director Hikari have created a visual love letter to Japan. The framing of Rental Family is art in its own right. But within the context of Hikari’s direction and Fraser’s performances, the art of Rental Family becomes an anchor for sentimentality.
Empathy is a core theme of Rental Family. But Hikari chooses to take Rental Family beyond pure empathy into compassion; the idea of putting empathy into action and attempting to create a more beautiful existence. Brendan Fraser is an incredible actor surrounded by a cast of great actors, but it’s through the rich characters they portray that compassion comes to the forefront. However, like Philip, the lines between reality and cinema begin to blur as Rental Family asks its audience to embrace themselves, to dare to build community, and to brave the idea of compassion. Hikari, Fraser, the entire cast and crew are worthy of any accolades of award season. But most of all, Rental Family is among the best films of 2025. From the performances to the direction to the sweet cinematography and the core idea of compassion, Rental Family is the film 2025 needs.
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