A Man Finds Connection in Loneliness in “Rental Family”

While Japan may be one of the most beautiful places you will ever visit, it is well known that its culture is characterized by loneliness and non-confrontation. One man in “Rental Family” explains, “You can live in this country for over 100 years and still not understand everything about the culture.” This isn’t news to Phillip Vanderploeg (Brendan Fraser), who moved to the country to star in a lucrative series of toothpaste commercials and now lives as a stranger in the land he has called home for seven years. He takes odd jobs (mostly as the token white guy) in various commercials and shows, but goes home to a non-existent life where he watches his neighbors with sadness and desire for the lives they have.

If he can’t be part of their lives, though, maybe he can play a “part” in them. He is recruited by a man who owns a company called Rental Family, where they play real-life roles in other people’s lives. Need to find a husband who can marry you for a sham wedding? This is where Rental Family comes in. From their perspective, they aren’t selling lies so much as they are selling memories. People need a pick-me-ups now and again, so why not hire an actor to be a part of that pick-me-up? Phillip, understandably, has reservations about this kind of work. If someone is depressed and needs a pick-me-up, isn’t that what a therapist is for?

Alas, mental illness is a stigma in Japan, and thus, a more appropriate solution is to create a happy situation for the person, even if that situation is built on dishonesty. I do wonder if this is something in Asian culture in general, as a movie called “The Farewell” was released several years ago, where a family got together to say goodbye to their dying grandma without telling her that she was dying. The fact that these stories typically feature an American to comment on this strange way of handling things makes me wonder if this sort of story can only be told with an observer looking in from the outside.

“Rental Family” is directed by Hikari, who previously directed short films and episodes of some Netflix shows like “Beef.” Her previous film, “37 Seconds,” revolved around an aspiring manga artist with cerebral palsy. In that movie, her character rebels against the customs and expectations of Japanese society, and it was praised internationally for being an honest depiction of Japanese culture. A Japanese woman rebelling against her own culture was likely seen as disrespectful by her country, which is why it makes more sense for a stupid, white American to comment on these matters from a place of ignorance rather than rebellion.

It gives her a chance to voice more concerns about where her country is heading and how it handles emotional challenges without alienating her own people. Make no mistake: Fraser is great in the role, being sympathetic and kind, and seeing his questions coming from a place of genuine concern rather than malice. Consider him a more friendly version of Bill Murray’s character from “Lost in Translation.” Other than including Fraser’s American perspective on things, “Rental Family” is otherwise a very Japanese film about Japanese people.

The major growth arcs revolve around the Japanese characters, as they must contend with how they accept certain customs in their own culture. It does tackle whether a white lie is bettering Japanese society or if the culture would be better off if some pushback were applied to how their lives are built. Outside of some producers and a co-writer, virtually every aspect of this movie was made by Japanese talent, so there is no ‘white savior’ narrative to be found here. Like her previous film, Hikari displays her love for her country, but she has concerns about how it deals with human emotions. I’m not really sure how people are going to respond to this film, American or Japanese.

Americans likely will relate to Phillips’ confusion about how the Japanese deal with their problems, but many may not relate to the film otherwise. Likewise, I suspect Japanese viewers will see a lot of their own lives in the film, but will it move their hearts, or will they just continue life as it was before? I’m not sure the movie is great enough to have a profound impact either way. What I can say is that “Rental Family” is a sweet story asking some earnest questions, and Brendan Fraser’s performance is the kind of centerpiece that makes movies like this work despite their quiet nature.

This review was originally published on The Fandom Post.