Hikari’s “Rental Family”
Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald
Brendan Fraser plays an American actor who has lived in Japan for 7 years, during which time his acting career fails to materialize. He takes a job at an agency that “rents” family members for special events such as weddings and funerals.
It sounds hokey, but we see these events from the inside and experience the American actor’s confusion and anxiety as he adjusts to playing such “family-intimate” roles.
Gradually, he adjusts to his work, and much of the film is devoted to two specific jobs. One is to be the “father” to a young girl trying to get into a prestigious school; the single mom believes that having a “dad” at the interview will increase her chances. The other job is to play the role of a journalist interviewing an elderly retired actor about his career.
In both cases, of course, we watch as the American—against his employer’s instructions—becomes emotionally attached to his subjects. Naturally, this causes conflict that serves to propel the story and the viewer’s engagement.
I’ve heard that such firms do exist in Japan, and this can be the subject of commentary about the deterioration of Japanese culture. Thankfully, that is not the topic of this film. Instead, we focus on what this all means for an American who plays these parts, and how he reacts to it all.
Brendan Fraser plays his role straight. He skillfully balances competing demands in a way that might have proved more difficult for a younger or less skilled actor. He’s the “fish out of water” American still adjusting to the cultural complexities of life in Japan. He’s also our emotional surrogate, as he applies (or so he thinks) his character’s acting skills to these day-to-day, real-life situations that require emotional engagement while at the same time maintaining emotional distance.
Life doesn’t always work that way. The film does a good and economical job—thanks to the director’s approach and Fraser’s acting—of showing some emotional reality through an engaging drama.
Recommended.
Review copyright © 2026 by Dennis D. McDonald
