Rental families have been a huge business in Japan since the 80s. They are companies that hire actors to serve as family members or friends for events or to fill emotional gaps. This is something that I certainly haven’t heard about before, but now, with the arrival of Rental Family, a sweet, gentle comedy drama, it is clearer what they are. They do raise some moral dilemmas, which are explored in this handsome-looking film starring a perfect lead.

Philip is a struggling American actor living in Japan. His biggest success was in a toothpaste advert, but since then, he hasn’t had the work he longed for. He is told there is a job with a company that hires actors to stand in for family members. Initially unsure if he can do this, Philip takes on a couple of assignments: one as a reporter interviewing a highly respected actor at the end of his life, and another as a father to a little girl so she can get into a prestigious school. However, the jobs come with their own issues that cause Philip to become emotionally involved.

Directed and co-written by Hikari, who had a minor hit with 37 Seconds, this takes a light touch, knowing that the subject matter may be unknown outside Japan, so it allows the audience to follow Phillip’s journey as he experiences it without prior knowledge. His first venture is to attend a funeral for a man who wants to experience it before his death, and then marry a woman in a full Japanese ceremony so she can make her parents proud, and without them knowing she is already married.

Immediately, you wonder whether this service is morally correct. Yet as Phillip gets his two big assignments, you understand this isn’t about exploiting customers, but about making them feel better about their lives. The main focus is Phillip stepping into the shoes of a wayward father for little Mia, a girl who never knew her father and whose mother needs a father to get her into one of the country’s highly prestigious schools.

The film moves at a gentle pace that suits the storytelling, and you find yourself swept along by Phillip’s adventures. What surprises me is how emotional it gets, and unlike Hamnet, this doesn’t have to push the buttons too hard to bring on the tears. At the same time, it is feel-good cinema and a chance to just enjoy the lovely mix of beautiful cinematography and solid scriptwriting.

It also helps to have an actor who comes across as one of the nicest men around. After the Oscar win for The Whale, Brandon Fraser has been given a second shot at fame, and he seems to be enjoying the chance to shine again. He has the look of a man in total wonderment, and it works brilliantly here. He is kind and caring, and you get to understand his plight and the difficulties he faces. It’s also a story about loneliness, and watching him in a small flat, watching the world outside his window, you want him to find happiness as those who hire him do.

This is like a fluffier companion piece to Lost in Translation, but Rental Family, on the outside, looks a little sickly sweet. It might have a touch of artificial sweetness, but on the whole, it’s surprising, and you find yourself wiping a tear or two as you leave with a spring in your step. If you need something to put a smile on your face, this does the trick.

4 out of 5

Director: Hikari

Starring: Brandan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Kimura Bun, Shannon Mahina Gorman, Shino Shinozaki, Akira Emoto

Written by Hikari and Stephen Blahut

Running Time: 109 mins

Cert: 12A

Release date: 16th January 2026