Rental Family TIFF Review: Brendan Fraser Delivers A Deeply Touching Performance In One Of The Year's Best Dramas

Hikari’s Rental Family may just be the most gentle, human film you’ll see all year. It’s the kind of film we need more of, as it captures the people’s loneliness and need for connection — with family, friends, and even strangers — with a tenderness that I haven’t seen in a while. Co-written by Hikari and Stephen Blahut, Rental Family is not only a beautifully told story but also a drama that employs a good dose of heart and humor.

To say that I was moved by the film is an understatement. I often go into films having only read the premise and maybe having seen the trailer once. It keeps a movie’s story intact for the most part, while leaving room to be surprised by what the filmmaker has in store. To that end, Rental Family feels like a revelation — a breath of fresh air after a long, hard day. It’s evocative and rich, tackling complex emotions and relationships with a delicacy that may just have you tearing up.

The film follows Phillip (Brendan Fraser, in a stunning turn), a struggling actor who takes a gig at the Rental Family company run by Shinji (Takehiro Hira). The services essentially involve Phillip pretending to be someone the hiring family or individual needs at any given moment — a dad to Mia (Shannon Mahina), whose mother (Shino Shinozaki) hires to do an interview for the school she wants Mia to get into, a journalist to interview Kiko (Akira Emoto), a retired actor worried about his legacy being forgotten, and a plethora of other roles.

Hikari’s film is a gentle soul. It takes its time laying the foundation for the story, expertly weaving together the characters and their connection to Phillip. Rental Family has got a lot to balance, but it does it so well that it seems effortless. It’s Phillip’s growing relationships with Mia and Kiko that are especially poignant. And it’s not just Phillip who’s helping them — they’re helping him fill the void in his life. Everyone is missing something here, and the film acts like a bridge between them so they don’t have to go through life alone.

To that end, the drama explores these layered dynamics deftly. It’s touching without being heavy-handed, and really gets to the heart of these characters. Every conversation is thoughtful, and the film is often funny. It’s a balancing act that gracefully handles every element. It’s a story that is deeply rooted in humanity and how we move in the world in relation to one another. Through Phillip, Rental Family also underscores the moral complexities of working in such a position. Embedding himself in people’s personal lives affects their emotions and his, and the film handles it all with sensitivity.

Rental Family’s Cast Approaches The Narrative With Heart & Depth

Between the writing, the tender score, and the sense of calmness evoked by the cinematography and direction, Rental Family needed a great cast to bring it all together. With Brendan Fraser leading a stunning cast of characters, the film certainly delivers on that front. Fraser’s performance is effective. His expressive face and eyes highlight the depth of Phillip’s loneliness and how much his new job fills it with a happiness he’s somewhat hesitant about. The actor is always fantastic, but he masterfully showcases Phillip’s feelings, wearing his heart on his sleeve as he navigates other people’s emotions along with his own.

Shannon Mahina and Akira Emoto are also exceptional as Mia and Kiko, respectively. They occupy different stages in life, as well as different circumstances, but they bring so much meaning to their roles and to their respective relationships with Phillip. Mahina is curious as Mia, underscoring how lying to children is never the right way to go despite not wanting to hurt them. Emoto reflects how much we want our memory to mean something to someone, and his performance is not only lovely, but he also brings levity to the film.

Rental Family is practically poetic in its handling of its themes. It gets to the root of human emotions and how they’re affected by the world around us and the decisions made by others. It’s a heartwarming film that asks thoughtful questions, and I promise you won’t be disappointed by its answers.

Rental Family premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

Note: This review was originally posted on September 7th, 2025.